[madaxe_again]

If they wanted a high resolution positioning system to cover the British isles, it could be accomplished with an entirely ground based triangulation network at a tiny fraction of the cost. Same principles, just cheaper, and a smaller area covered.

[eeh]

Does that work with GPS chips in phones?

Does that facilitate research into space?

Does that provide continuity for existing space research/universities?

Is space research considered to be geopolitically important?

I don't know the answers to these, but I do know these decisions are beyond arm chair critique.

[Rebelgecko]

>Does that work with GPS chips in phones?

I'm not super familiar with how Differential GPS works in practice, but I believe that the common phone receivers are able to pick it up. At the very least they're able to handle satellite based augmentations like WAAS and QZSS

[dathinab]

Also less know:

GPS can be used as an additional "highish" precision clock source for servers.

It works based on the device having known GPS position and knowledge that the position didn't change at all.

EDIT: This as far as I know also applies to other GPS like systems.

[dathinab]

The problem is the British sea. If it's just the land mass it's really not a supper big problem. It's still kinda big as devices would need to specially manufactured for their system, which can drive costs up.