The Beidou Navigation Project now covers China and surrounding regions. The system is expected to generate revenues of about 60 billion U.S. dollars by 2020.

In the first stage of the 2011-2015 period, 12 to 14 navigation satellites will be launched to provide timing and short message services in the Asia Pacific region. By 2020, a global navigation system comprised of more than 30 satellites will be in place.

Sun Jiadong,chief designer of Beidou Satellite Navigation ans Positioninig System, said, "The system now covers China and Southeast Asia. Our country is developing its economy fast that we need our own navigation system over the region."

With an increasing number of navigation satellites in orbit, the system will provide high-quality service including accurate real-time information for military and civil service. In the future, more and more fields will benefit from the Beidou Satellite Navigation System.

Tan Shusen, Deputy Chief Designer of Beidou Satellite Navigation and Positioning System, said, "In the future the system will consist of more than 60 satellites. The system will provide us with service which is more reliable and accurate."

The United States is currently the dominant provider of navigation services for vehicles in China, used in 95 percent of the country's navigation market.

According to experts, the performance of the Beidou system in global competition in the next ten years will largely rely on three aspects: user feedback, the overall construction of China's basic industries and support from government policies.