2020 Chinese version of GPS is completed

It has been announced that China will accelerate the pace of moving away from US technology by completing the Chinese version of the global positioning system and GPS network operated by the United States by the first half of 2020.

China’s Beidou satellite network, named after the constellation of the Big Dipper, is the first service to compete with GPS operated by the US Air Force. It can be said that over 70% of Chinese smartphones already have a large user base with the ability to use this service.

Beidou is an indispensable piece of China’s long-term plan to dominate next-generation telecommunications services. It also symbolizes the challenge of US supremacy over communication infrastructure with the development of China’s fifth-generation wireless communication technology.

Lan Chengqi, head of China’s satellite navigation office, said in a statement that China is about to launch the last two satellites needed to implement the Beidou system by June 2020. If China implements GPS and fifth-generation wireless network technology, China can occupy a large share of the new communications service market. It is already developing self-driving test vehicles on 28km roads using both 5G and Beidou technology. Beidou has already registered 120 partners for service linkage. These companies are related to contracts concluded under the One-to-One Way initiative promoted by China.

As of the second quarter of 2019, Chinese smartphone makers accounted for more than 40% of global sales. China’s GPS has been rolling out services in stages. It launched domestic services in 2000 and online community services in the Asia Pacific region in 2012. China’s 35-satellite network will surpass the US system by 2020.

One expert points out that although there is an aspect of expanding influence, it is highly likely that economic security is being considered. The biggest advantage of having your own system is that you can gain access without relying on other countries, citing the fact that the United States can deny access to users in certain regions in the event of a conflict.

Space is also a strategically important field for the Chinese government. China is already achieving important milestones, such as quantum communication using space capabilities and exploration behind the world’s first moon. China’s current plan is to send a probe to Mars in 2020 and complete the space station by 2022. The United States even created a space force, despite the risk of increasing tension on the ground as activity in space increases.

According to media reports, by 2020, the value of goods and services related to Beidou is expected to reach $57 billion. Of course, the figures themselves are ambiguous, but it reminds us of the various economic powers that China will make with a new satellite positioning service. In addition, it can be said that it is of great significance as China becomes more realistic in developing alternative Internet. Related information can be found here .