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mark occomore · Joined: 07 Dec 2006 Posts: 9955 Location: UK

A satellite handling mobile phone calls in London has been backed by the London Development Agency (LDA).
The technology will reduce the need for unpopular masts and could also be used to track motorists, the LDA said.

The agency voted to provide £12m in grants to London-based communications firm Inmarsat to develop the project.

The firm has now secured the necessary government support to place a bid with the European Space Agency to launch the satellite in French Guiana in 2011.

'Questionable benefit'

Equivalent funding is also coming from the South East of England Development Agency and the East of England Development Agency to support the bid.

"The firm requires government funding of up to 50m euros before its bid can be considered by the European Space Agency (Esa)," a LDA spokesman said.

To secure a place on the Esa rocket, Inmarsat will have to enter a bidding process against other firms.

Bob Blackman, of the London Assembly Conservatives, said the project appeared to be of questionable benefit for Londoners.

"This is an utter waste of taxpayers' money," he said.

BBC Online

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Tell me about it what a waste of money.

Ella Sailyour · Joined: 11 Dec 2006 Posts: 579 Location: Marbella, Spain

mark occomore · Joined: 07 Dec 2006 Posts: 9955 Location: UK

Behind Geddon's Wall · Posted: Tue Mar 27, 2007 7:43 am Post subject:

Apparently, the system will also help Ken do you for speeding (is that possible in London these Days?)
_________________
Geddon

You simply mustn't blame yourself -- the days were perfect
And so were exactly what I was born to spoil
For I am the Rider to the World's End
Bound across the cinder causeway
From the furnace to the quarry
Through the fields of oil

Rachel · Guest

The problem with satellite tacking systems is that they don't work very well at all, in areas where there are tall buildings. Call me a bit of a bit of a prophet if you will but I predict that there will be a huge number of tall buildings, in the London Area in 2011. Anyone who has used a Sat Nav in London will testify that they don't work too well between tall buildings, and those systems have many satellites, not just one. To track a car with any kind of accuracy you would need a minimum of two satellites and they would need to be some distance apart, three would be the norm. Of course the clowns in charge, see a sci-fi movie and think that is how it works. Some guy in a sharp suit will sell them a dream and they'll cheerfully use our money to pay for a system that will never work properly.

Ella Sailyour · Joined: 11 Dec 2006 Posts: 579 Location: Marbella, Spain

Behind Geddon's Wall · Posted: Tue Mar 27, 2007 8:15 am Post subject:

If my memory serves me correctly, Average speeds in London are now lower than before the invention of the internal combustion engine. ( I can legally do 40 mph through the middle of the Kings Town, and on occasion manage 38mph.)
_________________
Geddon

You simply mustn't blame yourself -- the days were perfect
And so were exactly what I was born to spoil
For I am the Rider to the World's End
Bound across the cinder causeway
From the furnace to the quarry
Through the fields of oil

Cherskiy · Posted: Tue Mar 27, 2007 11:50 am Post subject:

ESA have a lot of projects on the go at the minute and the queue for Ariane launchers is long (especially if you're on the limit for funding). As Rachel says, a single satellite won't be much use as a tracking system, it will easily get confused by ground returns. Ideally, the system should have three or more if it is going to be any use.
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