China to complete independent GPS system Beidou

China is prepared to send the final satellite to space that will complete its own global navigation network Beidou and will allow it to rely less on US tech.

The network will provide China with its own global positioning system and will ensure Beijing’s military systems will remain online in the case of conflict with the US.

The Beidou network consists of 30 satellites which are key for navigation or even messaging.

China was set to launch the last satellite this week but it was postponed because of “technical issues,” according to Beidou’s official website.

Once in full operation, it will mark a considerable upgrade from the last Beidou system, which was was completed in 2012 but provided similar services just for the Asia Pacific region.

Countries like Thailand and Pakistan are already using the Beidou system for various uses. Over half of countries in the world are using the network, claimed Yang Changfeng, chief designer of Beidou, according to state-backed media Xinhua.