Satellite network marks 5 years as guide

In the five years since its launch, China's domestically developed Beidou Navigation Satellite System has become a vital resource for public and commercial services nationwide, a senior official said.

The network is used to guide more than 4.8 million taxis, buses and trucks, as well as 40,000 fishing vessels, Ran Chengqi, director of the China Satellite Navigation Office, said on Wednesday.

He said in a news conference marking the fifth anniversary of the satellite system's launch that Beidou's accurate positioning and navigation services also have helped authorities respond to emergencies faster, including natural disasters.