With the successful launch of Wednesday's navigation satellite, China's own Beidou navigation system is entering a networking peak.
More navigation satellites are scheduled to be put into orbit over the next two years. And analysts are predicting that China will complete a global navigation system before 2020.
The Beidou navigation system is a project by China to develop an independent satellite navigation system.
The country launched three satellites between 2000 and 2003 creating an experimental navigation system, which has limited coverage.
But it's now developing a truly global one.
The latest Beidou system, known as Compass consists of 35 satellites.
The first satellite was put into orbit in April, 2007.
And the one launched on Wednesday is the second.
Ten more navigation satellites are scheduled to go into space within the next two years.
China is expected to build a navigation system covering the entire country as well as neighboring regions by 2011.
Chen Zhonggui, Vice-general engineer of Compass Navigation SAtellite System, said, "It's expected that we can build a global navigation system before 2020."
The application of a satellite navigation network has been becoming more widespread in China.
And its market scale is doubling every two years.
Zhao Xiaojin from China Aerospace Sci-tech Co. said, "Once the Beidou navigation system is completed, its application on the ground will create an enormous industry. Its scale is estimated at over one hundred billion yuan."
Satellite navigation technology has been used in various sectors in China including transportation, exploration and quake monitoring.
So far, the number of subscribers in China's own Beidou system has reached over 40,000.
Experts say that with the development of this satellite navigation technology, related high-tech industries in the country are expected to gain momentum.
(CCTV April 16, 2009)
