China’s satellite navigation and positioning industry reached a milestone in 2024, achieving a total output value of 575.8 billion yuan (approximately $79.9 billion), marking a 7.39% year-on-year increase. The growth underscores the continued expansion and technological evolution of the BeiDou Navigation Satellite System (BDS), according to a white paper released Sunday.
The report, issued by the Global Navigation Satellite System and Location-Based Services Association of China (GLAC), highlights major progress across the BDS ecosystem. By the end of 2024, China had filed more than 129,000 satellite navigation patent applications. Roughly 288 million mobile phones nationwide were equipped with BDS-powered positioning capabilities.
The core industry segment — encompassing critical technologies such as chips, algorithms, and terminal devices — accounted for 169.9 billion yuan of the total output, according to GLAC President Yu Xiancheng.
BDS has now achieved high-precision, lane-level navigation coverage across more than 99% of China’s urban and rural roadways. This infrastructure enables over 1 trillion daily location-based services and supports 4 billion kilometers of navigation activity each day. The system also plays a key role in intelligent transportation, supporting road tests for connected and autonomous vehicles in more than 50 Chinese cities.
Beyond its domestic influence, BDS has expanded globally. Products and services from the system are now used in over 140 countries and regions, providing high-quality public navigation capabilities. “The BDS not only meets domestic demands but also enables people around the world to enjoy advanced navigation services from China,” said Li Donghang, director of the GLAC Beidou-Space Time Technology Research Institute.
Recognized by the United Nations as a core provider of global satellite navigation services, BeiDou is integrated into the operational frameworks of 11 major international organizations, including those overseeing civil aviation, maritime navigation, and mobile communications.
In Africa, more than 30 countries — including Nigeria, Tunisia, Senegal, Cameroon, and Djibouti — have deployed BeiDou Continuously Operating Reference Stations (CORS) to support sectors such as water management, agriculture, transportation, and meteorological monitoring.
Meanwhile, in South America, Peru’s Chancay Port has become the first smart port to implement a next-generation system integrating 5G, BeiDou high-precision positioning, and artificial intelligence. This application underscores the system’s versatility and growing importance in global infrastructure development.
With strong government support, rapid technological innovation, and expanding international partnerships, the BeiDou system continues to solidify China’s role as a major force in global navigation technology.
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