BeiDou Navigation Satellite System (BDS), China’s homegrown GPS-like global positioning system, attempts to go global. The BeiDou expansion will start in Sri Lanka, Thailand and will soon be covering the whole Southeast Asia region, according to the system’s operator.
In an interview with Xinhua News Agency, general manager of Wuhan Optics Valley BeiDou Holding Group Co. Du Li said that the company will persist in discovering models for international scientific and technical cooperation on BDS. The collaborative works will include joint construction of base stations, joint technical development and research, personnel training and exchanges.
In Dec. 2013, Wuhan Optics Valley BeiDou created the first batch of three overseas Continuously Operating Reference Stations (CORS) and its networking for BDS in Chonburi Province, east of Thailand.
A China-ASEAN science and technology city is to be built in Thailand to promote BDS applications. Among the 10 countries forming the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) are Thailand, Malaysia, Vietnam, Cambodia and Laos.
This year, Wuhan Optics Valley BeiDou will work together with Lankan-related authorities to build at least 10 CORS in Sri Lanka. Du said the CORS will be used in land surveying and mapping, ocean fishery and disaster warning.
According to Du, the BDS coverage can increase to at least 3,000 km toward Southeast Asia and South Asia with the setting up of CORS in Thailand and Sri Lanka.
Wuhan Optics Valley BeiDou is located in Wuhan, the capital city of Hubei Province. The company is responsible for the operations and services of BDS. The system already has a constellation of 32 satellites by the end of the previous year.
Li Deren, a professor at a state key laboratory at Wuhan University, said that the Belt and Road Initiative gives China’s space and technology a big break.
"Our priority is to expand BDS from China to the frontline of the Belt and Road Initiative, and Optics Valley BeiDou is a pioneer," Li said.
Li added that China-made smartphones which carry Chinese chips, such as Huawei smartphones, will be good means for BDS to go abroad.
The BeiDou expansion in Southeast Asia will be a good start for achieving the company’s aim to go global.