China moved a step closer to its dream of building a satellite navigation system that could challenge America’s GPS.

Aerospace firm plans a giant leap for Chinese satellite coverage with global network

Yang Changfeng, the chief designer of the system, said a basic Beidou-3 network would be in place by the end of the year to serve countries that have signed up for China’s Belt and Road Initiative – an ambitious transcontinental infrastructure initiative.

“This is a key step for Beidou to develop from a domestic experimental system to a regional and then a global navigation system,” said Yang Changfeng.