According to Chinese state media reports, China is preparing to extend its self-developed Beidou Satellite Navigation System, through a project called “Bringing Satellites Underground,” enabling Beidou satellite signals to be received in sunless areas such as tunnels, underground parking lots, and underground mines. In addition, China is also in the process of upgrading the Beidou system and building the next-generation system.
CCTV News reports that the “Bringing Satellites Underground” project involves setting up an outdoor receiving antenna that amplifies the satellite signal and then relays it to a control room located underground. From there, a high-precision time synchronization server is used to simultaneously transmit the signal through multiple base stations set up underground, allowing users below ground to receive the Beidou satellite system signal.
Zhang Jun, an engineer at the Beidou Application Development Research Institute, stated that with this technology, underground locations covered by “Bringing Satellites Underground” signals will allow users to receive Beidou positioning in tunnels identical to that on the surface, simply by using their usual navigation systems, without the need to update the software or hardware of their phones or vehicle equipment.
The report notes that in the Dongliuhuan underground tunnel in the eastern suburbs of Beijing, Beidou satellite signal transmission base stations have already been installed to bring Beidou signals from the sky into the tunnel, boasting seamless positioning navigation both inside and outside the tunnel.
Zhang Jun also stated that this technology is currently being expanded in China, and in addition to tunnels, it will be extended in the future to underground parking lots, large transportation hubs, underground coal mines, urban underground public pipelines, and many other locations.
In addition, according to the report, China is comprehensively building the next generation of the Beidou satellite navigation system. According to the “Beidou Satellite Navigation System Development Plan Before 2035” document, key technology research is to be completed by 2025, around 2027 three experimental satellites will be launched, around 2029 satellites will be launched to form a signal network, and the system will be completed by 2035.