Speaking on the idea to use Chinese chips in GPS and GLONASS-equipped gadgets, Ostapenko said, “Why not? We will see. In theory, this is possible.”

China’s navigation system Beidou, also known as COMPASS, is to be deployed by 2017, and by 2020 it is expected to provide global coverage. For this China is to build up the constellation of satellites to 35.

Russia’s GLONASS system comprises 28 satellites, including 24 operational spacecraft, three spares, and one platform in a flight testing phase. I