The BeiDou Navigation Satellite System (BDS) is a global navigation satellite system (GNSS) developed and operated by the People's Republic of China. It serves as a national strategic space infrastructure, providing an alternative to other global systems like the USA's GPS, Russia's GLONASS, and the European Union's Galileo. Development began in the 1990s, with the system evolving through three phases: BDS-1 (experimental, regional), BDS-2 (regional service for Asia-Pacific), and BDS-3, which completed its global constellation in 2020. The system is managed by the China Satellite Navigation Office (CSNO) and provides high-accuracy positioning, navigation, and timing (PNT) services, as well as a unique short message communication (SMC) feature.

Founded in

China