The Compatible and Interoperable BeiDou Satellite Navigation System

CHINA launched the last satellite of the BeiDou Navigation Satellite System (BDS), the 55th in the BeiDou family, on June 23 in Xichang Satellite Launch Center in Sichuan Province.

- CHEN BIAO & QI XIAOJUN

It marks the completion of the deployment of China’s own global navigation system. On its journey to explore a path of developing a navigation satellite system suitable for its national conditions since the late 20th century, China formulated a three-step strategy of development for BDS: to complete the construction of BDS-1 and provide services to the whole country by the end of 2000; to complete the construction of BDS-2 and provide services to the Asia-Pacific region by the end of 2012; and to complete the construction of BDS and provide services worldwide around 2020.

In fact, since late 2018, BDS has begun to provide global services. As of now, the four satellites of BDS-1 have all been decommissioned. With its remarkable progress in system construction, application and promotion, and global development, alongside its expanding global coverage and improving service capacity, BDS is rising to the status of one of the world’s top-tier satellite navigation systems.

Compatibility, a Dominant Global Trend

Lately, reports about American spy plane pilots using BDS as a backup to GPS have caught lots of attention. This indicates that most of Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) products worldwide feature multi-system compatibility and interoperability, a dominant trend now, also a result of market competition.

China has been attaching great importance to BDS’s construction and application and set its development goal to become a world leading satellite navigation system, providing continuous, stable, and reliable service. Meanwhile, BDS has also proactively integrated with the GNSS family in a bid to make its service available to more global users.