Satellite industry raises sights-at least 100 'by 2020'

China is likely to be building and supplying at least 10 percent of the world's satellites by 2020, according to a leading space researcher.

"A forecast by a foreign consultancy said that around 1,000 satellites will be launched by 2020 to meet the demands of the market, and we believe Chinese-developed satellites will account for more than 10 percent of that market," said Yuan Minhui, the director of the Beijing Institute of Space Science and Technology Information. Yuan, who spoke to China Daily on Monday on the sidelines of the Third China International Satellite Service Business Matching event, which is aimed to promote Chinese satellites in the international market, said the role will only continue to grow.

"Remote sensing, communications, and positioning and navigation satellites are our major offers in the global market and they will continue to expand their shares," he said.