Beidou Asia Pacific Could Be Running By Year End

[RobBrady]

China is continuing to challenge the GPS dominance of the US. A global positioning system, developed by China, will be operational across the Asia Pacific by the end of the year, with a full global roll-out expected to occur by 2014, recent reports have revealed.

Beidou, China's rival to satellite systems developed by the United States, currently has eleven satellites in orbit, with three of these being launched this year.

Products which are compatible with the service have, according to the Director of the Advisory Centre of the China Association for Global Navigation Satellite Systems, Cao Chong, already experienced success in cars and ships, but so far fail to compete on a global scale.

Speculating on future development, Chong claimed that "products that are compatible with both Beidou and other global positioning system technologies, such as that of GPS, will flourish in the next few years in China, and hold a majority share of the market."

He added, "Beidou was put into service just a few years ago, so it is hard for it to compete with GPS".

With global positioning a vital feature of modern warfare, rumours that this news could signify enhanced Chinese military ambitions are already circulating.

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Robert Brady

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