China is opening up its Beidou satellite-based navigation system to other Asian countries for use in military and civilian applications, Reuters reported Friday.Adam Rose writes China currently operates 16 satellites in the Beidou constellation and aims to increase that number to 30 through 2020.
“The construction of the Beidou network should resolve the country’s security issues, including economic security and the security of society-at-large,” Ran Chengqi, director of the Chinese Satellite Navigation Office told Reuters.
Reuters reports the Beidou technology is built to transmit geolocation data to Chinese warships, attack aircraft and missile weapons.
The Chinese government also wants to offer the service to commercial sectors such as the automobile and telecommunications industries, according to the report.
