spacetoday.net: Chinese navigation system begins service in Asia-Pacific region

Posted: Fri, Dec 28, 2012, 6:29 AM ET (1129 GMT)
Chinese officials announced Wednesday that they have opened their domestic satellite navigation system for use by people in the Asia Pacific region. Beidou, the Chinese system, offers position, navigation, and timing services with a location accuracy of 10 meters for people in China and surrounding regions. That accuracy is not as good as other satellite navigation systems, such as the American GPS system, but Beidou does offer a short messaging service capability not available on those other systems. Beidou currently has 16 satellites in geosynchronous and inclined orbits, with plans to have a 30-satellite system capable of global coverage by the end of the decade.