China Daily reports that China is launching the equivalent of GPS satellites and will provide the service free. They state:
The world can expect to use China's "reliable"
global positioning and navigation services for free by 2020, the director of
the country's satellite navigation office said on Friday. "The Beidou Navigation Satellite System is committed to
providing services to the whole world — currently for the Asia-Pacific — for
free," said Ran Chengqi, director of the China Satellite Navigation
Office. The office released two documents to specify China's
homegrown navigation system's open service performance standard and to
facilitate research and development of various terminals for global users. After deploying 16 satellites since 2000, the country will
begin launching newer navigation satellites near the end of 2014, Ran said at a
news conference. In six to eight years, the number of satellites that will be
launched is expected to grow to 40 to form a constellation as coverage expands
globally, according to a statement from Ran's office. These satellites, with enhanced functions, will have a
lifespan of up to 15 years. The satellites currently in use work for about
eight years.
Interesting competition or threat? And there is as of yet no reports in the Western Press.
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