China releases white paper on BeiDou navigation satellite system

The Chinese government on Thursday released a white paper elaborating on the development of BeiDou Navigation Satellite System (BDS), which has been independently developed and operated by China.

According to the document, China has formulated a three-step strategy for developing the BDS, aiming to complete the constellation deployment with 35 satellites around 2020 to provide services to global users, according to the document, which was unveiled by the State Council Information Office.

In the first step, China meant the project to provide services to domestic users, and in the second, the system expanded services to the Asia-Pacific region. The second one was achieved by the end of 2012.

The BDS will provide all-time, all-weather and high-accuracy positioning, navigation and timing services to global users, according to the document.