China upgraded the North Dau system

China said it would raise the satellite number of the North Pole positioning system to 30 by 2020 in an effort to improve accuracy to better compete against the US GPS network.

>>>China provides global positioning services

Operation model of the Bac Dau system (Photo: beidou.gov.cn)

The Bac Dau system , with 16 satellites covering the Asia-Pacific region, is currently accurate within 4.5m, but Chinese officials claim to upgrade it to compete with the GPS system. America, currently the world's most commonly used global positioning network, according to ZDNet.

There were six satellites added to the system last year, since it was launched in December 2011.

The China Space Science and Technology Group said that Beijing encourages other Asian countries to take advantage of the North Dau system, which is now available for free, as well as the US doing so with the GPS system.

Ran Chengqi, director of the China Satellite Positioning Office, said the North Dau system will also contribute to China's national security.

'Satellite positioning is an important part of a country's infrastructure, and it is a combination of civilian and military infrastructure , ' said Ran.