And by then there's likely to be a replacement for the existing SARSAT signal protocol: the existing scheme doesn't really support GPS - GPS locating is a hack that only works in some parts of the world - and I expect that eventually someone will upgrade the protocol at some point, perhaps adding some situational information etc in addition to the unit serial number.
The existing location protocol does include location information from a GPS, if included in or hooked up to the beacon, it is not limited to the beacon information unless is is not a location protocol beacon, IOW one without any GPS or navigation information capability. While there are likely to be updated protocols in the future offering greater precision in the provided location, it is a subject of intense discussion and research in the SARSAT community right now, I am also not sure I understand your comments about the GPS only working in some parts of the world. It is true that the current protocol cannot transmit the precision that the GPS receiver is capable of due to encoding limitations, but there is no geographic limitation associated with it. Since it is based on a worst case of +/- 4 seconds of a degree, it is variable with the largest possible offset, the 100 meters precision typically quoted, found at the equator, but I know of no other limitations related to geographical location that you imply may exist.
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