Goodbye, GPS: this European alternative is already used 5 billion times

On vacation, heading to a restaurant, on the way to an event – ​​we do a lot of navigating. You often use your iPhone and an app like Google Maps or Apple Maps for this . And these, in turn, consult a satellite network to guide you from A to B.

For years, the American GPS was used for this, but smartphones can now consult multiple satellite networks simultaneously, including Galileo. This network serves as a European alternative to GPS, and almost all phones from 2016 and newer support using it.

Galileo is a collaboration between the European Union and the European Space Agency (ESA). The system consists of approximately thirty active satellites orbiting the Earth at an altitude of over 23,000 kilometers. Galileo primarily serves as an initiative to reduce dependence on the United States, particularly for essential infrastructure.

That goal now seems to be bearing fruit. For instance, according to the latest figures from the European Commission, there are over 5 billion devices working with Galileo. This includes not only smartphones like the iPhone, but also cars, drones, and even ships.

Moreover, Galileo brings many more advantages. For example, because the system – unlike GPS – is not under military control. Galileo is also praised for its precision: even in busy cities with tall structures, the system can still accurately determine your location.

This accuracy is therefore also a boon for infrastructure facilities. Think of aviation and shipping, but also agriculture, logistics companies, and various emergency services. There are also plans for new satellites, which will allow Galileo to work even better – and cover even more devices.

What do you need to do to navigate via Galileo? Nothing, absolutely nothing. The only thing you need is a device that supports it. But as mentioned, this is built-in as standard on all iPhones from 2016 onwards. The same applies to other modern Apple devices with location services.