China’s satellite navigation industry is soaring to new heights, fueled by the remarkable growth of the homegrown BeiDou Navigation Satellite System (BDS). The industry has witnessed significant advancements, positioning China as a global leader in satellite navigation and location-based services.
According to recent reports, China leads the world with over 129,000 patents related to satellite navigation. This surge in innovation underscores the nation’s commitment to technological advancement and self-reliance in critical infrastructure.
BeiDou’s widespread application has been a cornerstone of this expansion. By the end of last year, hundreds of millions of smartphones in China were equipped with BeiDou-enabled positioning capabilities. High-precision, lane-level navigation services now cover over 99 percent of urban and rural roads nationwide, processing billions of location-based service requests daily and facilitating vast distances of journeys each day.
The impact of BeiDou extends beyond personal navigation. In over 50 cities across China, road tests for smart connected vehicles powered by BeiDou’s high-accuracy positioning are underway, heralding a new era in intelligent transportation.
Internationally, the BDS has been integrated into the technical standards of major organizations in civil aviation, maritime affairs, and mobile telecommunications. BeiDou-related products and services have been exported to more than 140 countries and regions, bolstering global connectivity and cooperation.
As China’s satellite navigation industry continues to flourish, the BeiDou system stands as a testament to the nation’s innovative spirit and its commitment to advancing technology for the benefit of people worldwide.
