GLONASS service to be provided free

Russian President Vladimir Putin signed a decree on the GLONASS navigation system to provide the service free for customers, the official sources said.

"Access to civilian navigation signals of global navigation satellite system GLONASS is provided to Russian and foreign consumers free of charge and without limitations," Putin's report said. In line with the report, satellite navigation equipment bought for federal bodies of executive power and organizations subordinate to them should operate using GLONASS signals. Putin charged the Federal Space Agency with coordinating work to maintain, develop and use the system for civilian and commercial needs.

The head of the space agency said, in April Russia will bring the number of satellites comprising its Glonass navigation system to 18 by the end of 2007. Anatoly Perminov said then a full orbital group of 24 satellites will be ready for global coverage by the end of 2009, but with 18 satellites in orbit it will start providing services for military and civilian users, covering Russian territory. A total of $380 million has been appropriated for GLONASS from the federal budget in 2007, and $181 million in 2006.

Source: http://www.gpsdaily.com/reports