Published : 31/07/2025
On July 31, 2020, the ceremony for the completion and commissioning of the BeiDou Navigation Satellite System (BDS), also known as BDS-3, was held in Beijing.
Chinese president Xi Jinping attended the ceremony and announced the official commissioning of the BeiDou-3.
The BDS is China's first satellite system to provide navigation services globally.
It consists of three types of satellites in different orbits: Medium Earth Orbit (MEO) satellites, Inclined Geosynchronous Orbit (IGSO) satellites, and Geostationary Orbit (GEO) satellites. This includes 24 MEO satellites, 3 IGSO satellites, and 3 GEO satellites.
Currently, more than 200 countries and regions worldwide are using the BeiDou system.
After the ceremony, Xi Jinping and others went to the Hebei Hall of the Great Hall of the People to visit the exhibition showcasing the construction and development achievements of the BeiDou system.
They listened to the introduction of the project construction, operation services, application promotion, international cooperation, and development prospects. Xi Jinping fully affirmed the achievements of the BeiDou system, especially the construction of the BDS-3.
He pointed out that the completion and commissioning of the BDS-3 fully demonstrate the political advantage of the socialist system in China, which can concentrate resources to accomplish significant undertakings.
It is of great significance for enhancing China's overall national strength, promoting economic development and improving people's livelihood under the condition of normalised pandemic prevention and control, advancing China's opening to the outside world in the current international economic situation, and further strengthening national self-confidence and striving to achieve the "Two Centenary Goals."
As a major national space infrastructure, the BeiDou system provides public service products, just like electricity and wireless networks, and must realise its value through terminal services.
Therefore, "integrated development and the interconnection of all things" has always been the fundamental principle for promoting the application of BeiDou.
Currently, BeiDou is rapidly advancing into new infrastructure, deeply integrating with new technologies such as the next-generation communications, blockchain, the Internet of Things (IoT), and AI.
New models, new business forms, and new economies driven by satellite navigation technology, such as precise agriculture, precision logistics, autonomous driving, and intelligent transportation, are continually emerging.
Through the interconnection of all things, "BeiDou+" is making life more convenient.