Five European organisations have set up a consortium to develop enabling technologies for mass market receivers for Galileo services.

The group- called GREAT (Galileo Receiver for the mass market) – says the high volume mass market for receivers will be the key to offering precise location services using the Galileo satellite network.

The consortium was set up to enter the second call of the 6th Framework Programme for Galileo Research and Development.

UK group PA Consulting will head the consortium. Other members are Spanish firm Accorde, the German aerospace centre DLR, Tampere University of Technology in Finland, Swiss fabless developer and manufacturer of GPS chipsets and GPS receiver modules U-blox.

There will be three phrases to the project: core technology development; prototyping and testing; and achieving major blocks of demonstrable baseband IP, which in turn will allow further developments to be kick-started.

The consortium will develop front-end RF designs, as well as the algorithms and baseband technology to allow the Galileo signal to be used in indoor locations.