BEIJING — China has added two satellites to its homegrown global navigation and positioning network that seeks to reduce reliance on the U.S.-based Global Positioning System, state media reported Monday. China plans to complete a network linking more than 30 satellites providing real-time geospatial information worldwide by 2020. The system started operating in mainland China in 2000 and then expanded to cover the Asia-Pacific region in 2012. The Beidou-3 satellites represent an upgrade with greater accuracy and an enhanced ability to communicate with other satellite navigation systems. On completion, Beidou, which means Big Dipper in Chinese, will join GPS, Russia’s GLONASS and the European Union’s Galileo as satellite navigation systems with global coverage.

Source: National Post November 06, 2017 05:37 UTC