Li Jingwei, general manager of Star Geomatics Park Investment Co Ltd, told China Daily on Tuesday the illegal mapping services exist mainly because the mapping industry is in its infancy and few people know about the legal process they should follow if they want to provide mapping services.

"Many mapping providers don't know the importance of mapping services and that is part of the problem," Li said.

He added that the crackdown will help the healthy development of the country's mapping industry.

The bureau started supervising online mapping services in May. It is calling on companies offering the services to apply for a license before March 31 if they want to continue.

More than 100 domestic and overseas companies that provide online mapping services have so far received licenses allowing them to continue. Another 100 are in the process of applying. Google, which offers extensive mapping services, is understood not to have applied, according to an earlier report.

The bureau said it will take action after July 1 against any unlicensed mapping service providers.

Song Chaozhi, deputy director of the bureau, said in a news release in January that the bureau will formulate favorable policies for the development of the country's online mapping service industry, which is expected to grow by 25 percent each year.