<p class="title">Europe's Galileo satellite position system, a future rival of the American GPS network, has been out of service since Friday, its oversight agency said.</p>.<p class="bodytext">The European Global Navigation Satellite Systems Agency (GSA) said the outage was caused by a "technical incident related to its ground infrastructure".</p>.<p class="bodytext">Galileo has been in a pilot phase since December 2016 and devices that use its signal should be able to switch to GPS services while it is fixed.</p>.<p class="bodytext">"The incident has led to a temporary interruption of the Galileo initial navigation and timing services," the GSA said.</p>.<p class="bodytext">The network's search and rescue function, which helps pinpoint boat crews or hikers in distress, is unaffected.</p>.<p class="bodytext">Galileo has 22 orbital satellites helping to pinpoint and track mobile telephone users and vehicles.</p>.<p class="bodytext">It is due to become fully operational around the globe next year, offering a civilian, European alternative to US and Russian-controlled networks.</p>.<p class="bodytext">Although controlled by a civilian agency, planners hope it will also underpin the strategic independence of future European military systems. </p>
<p class="title">Europe's Galileo satellite position system, a future rival of the American GPS network, has been out of service since Friday, its oversight agency said.</p>.<p class="bodytext">The European Global Navigation Satellite Systems Agency (GSA) said the outage was caused by a "technical incident related to its ground infrastructure".</p>.<p class="bodytext">Galileo has been in a pilot phase since December 2016 and devices that use its signal should be able to switch to GPS services while it is fixed.</p>.<p class="bodytext">"The incident has led to a temporary interruption of the Galileo initial navigation and timing services," the GSA said.</p>.<p class="bodytext">The network's search and rescue function, which helps pinpoint boat crews or hikers in distress, is unaffected.</p>.<p class="bodytext">Galileo has 22 orbital satellites helping to pinpoint and track mobile telephone users and vehicles.</p>.<p class="bodytext">It is due to become fully operational around the globe next year, offering a civilian, European alternative to US and Russian-controlled networks.</p>.<p class="bodytext">Although controlled by a civilian agency, planners hope it will also underpin the strategic independence of future European military systems. </p>