On May 18, 2025, GNSS & LBS Association of China, which is China’s only national industry association in the satellite navigation and location services, released a White Paper on China’s recent satellite service progress. The White Paper announced that China’s BeiDou System, recognized by the United Nations as a core global satellite navigation system provider, has been fully integrated into the standards system of 11 international organizations. BeiDou’s presence has been expanded to civil aviation, maritime, and mobile communications sectors and continues to expand its international network for a greater strategic influence in the global digital economy.

It is reported that to date, China has signed cooperation agreements with Russia, Pakistan, the Arab League, Saudi Arabia, Belarus and others. Products incorporating BeiDou System are now exported to over 140 countries and regions. Over 30 countries in Africa, such as Nigeria and Senegal have built BeiDou CORS stations. The satellite stations supports high-precision positioning services like land surveying and mapping, transportation and vehicle management. Additionally, under the Belt and Road Initiative, Peru has become the first country in South America to possess a smart port combined 5G, BeiDou high-precision positioning & AI technologies. Moving forward, China and Russia are going to deepen cooperation in satellite navigation, promoting greater compatibility and interoperability between BeiDou and GLONASS systems and their augmentation systems.

In the consumer product sector, BeiDou continues to gain momentum in China’s domestic market. Adoption is expanding rapidly across smartphones, wearable devices, passenger vehicles, consumer drones, and electric bicycles. In particular, the scale-up in smartphones is striking: around 288 million units now support BeiDou positioning, representing 98% of the market. However, according to the White Paper, despite massive deployment in some specific fields, BeiDou still has enormous growth potential within China’s mass consumer market, especially the New Energy Vehicles. As the integration of BeiDou System in China’s critical infrastructure has become mature, China’s next priority for BeiDou System is to drive its penetration into the mass consumer market.

About China’s BeiDou System:

The BeiDou System is China’s global satellite navigation system, similar to the U.S. GPS. It provides positioning, navigation, and timing (PNT) services to users on land, sea, and air.

BeiDou works by using a constellation of over 40 satellites in three types of orbits:

  • Medium Earth Orbit (MEO):Provides global coverage.
  • Geostationary Orbit (GEO):Offers continuous service over China and nearby regions.
  • Inclined Geosynchronous Orbit (IGSO):Improves accuracy and availability in the Asia-Pacific region.

The system allows users to determine their location with high precision, typically within a few meters. It supports standard navigation for phones and vehicles, as well as enhanced services for military, industrial, and scientific applications. Some BeiDou services offer centimeter-level accuracy when combined with ground-based systems.

BeiDou also provides two-way communication in certain modes, allowing short text messages to be sent via satellite.

The system is used in transportation, agriculture, mapping, disaster response, and more. It is compatible with other global navigation systems, enabling multi-system receivers to increase accuracy and reliability.