The European Union will not decide which international satellite consortium will build and run the its Galileo satellite navigation system until the end of January, a month later than originally planned, the body responsible for the decision announced Tuesday.
The decision has been put off because the bids from the two competing consortia, Eurely and iNavSat, were so similar, said Hans Peter Marchlewski, a spokesman for the Galileo Joint Undertaking (GJU), which is charged with making the decision. The GJU will continue negotiations with the two parties.
INavSat comprises the European Aeronautic Defence and Space Co. EADS NV (EADS Space), Inmarsat Ventures PLC and Thales SA. Eurely consists of Vinci Concessions SA, Alcatel SA and Finmeccanica SpA.
The successful bidder will have to find at least two-thirds of the €2.2 billion ($2.7 billion) start-up cost.
