The Chinese alternative to gps, Beidou, is in the air. From China and the surrounding areas, the system can be used. There are currently ten Beidou satellites in the sky; the next year six.
From China and the surrounding area, the system can already be used, reports the Chinese state news agency Xinhua. Earlier this month was the tenth satellite launched. By six satellites to launch by the end of next year from the whole Asian-Pacific area, the system can be used. In 2020, the network, compatible with gps, worldwide. The system must be than 35 satellites include.
The navigation system is created to be an alternative to gps to offer: the United States have full control over that system, and that thinking about China. Also Russia and the European Union are working on an alternative to gps, in the form of, respectively, Glonass and Galileo. China also takes part in the funding of Galileo, which recently launched the first satellite in the air.
The initial Beidou only by the army and the government, but also private individuals and companies may use the system. For them, the service will be limited: the accuracy of the location calculation is like gps is limited, in this case, up to ten meters, and also the precision of time and velocity measurements is reduced.