Summary of Key Points
Time and space information has become the "foundation" for the integration of the digital economy and the real economy, with the Beidou satellite navigation system being its core support. The Beidou industry is expected to generate a revenue of 629 billion yuan by 2025, with the goal of exceeding one trillion yuan within five years. The Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT) will introduce an action plan for the adaptation of time and space information terminals. The first batch of Beidou city pilots has shown significant results (with cases in Xiongan, Qingpu, Guangzhou, etc.), and the second batch is about to be launched. Companies are accelerating the adoption of Beidou in areas such as automobiles and smartphones, while also working to overcome challenges in high precision and intelligence. Beidou is transitioning from merely exporting equipment to providing operational services globally.
Detailed Analysis
1. Time and Space Information: The "Invisible Infrastructure" of the Digital Economy
Time and space information may sound abstract, but it essentially combines positioning, navigation, time, and geographic data. For example, when you order food delivery via smartphone, your location is needed; drones for delivery require navigation routes; in precision agriculture, knowing which fields need fertilizers depends on geographic and temporal data. This technology is increasingly essential in smart cities (such as intelligent transportation), the low-altitude economy (drones and logistics), and precision agriculture, making it the foundational element for the integration of the digital and real economies.
The MIIT is about to release an "Action Plan for the Adaptation of Time and Space Information Terminal Supply and Demand," which aims to better connect equipment manufacturers with end-users (such as city managers, farmers, and car companies) to ensure that terminal devices meet their needs and promote integrated applications. This plan will be implemented this year, potentially accelerating the development of the time and space information industry.
2. The Scale of the Beidou Industry
Beidou is a domestically developed satellite navigation system that has become ubiquitous in daily life:
- Industry Revenue: The industry is expected to generate 629 billion yuan by 2025, a year-on-year increase of 9.24%, with a goal of exceeding one trillion yuan within five years.
- Chips and Devices: A total of 2.6 billion Beidou chips have been sold, and there are over 2.2 billion Beidou-enabled devices in use.
- Daily Applications: Over 98% of smartphones support Beidou positioning, and devices such as smartwatches, shared bicycles, and car navigation systems also use Beidou. Key industries (such as logistics and power) have nearly 40 million Beidou terminals in use, with a penetration rate of around 90%.
- Special Features: Beidou's short messaging service (which can send messages even without cell signal) is particularly useful in emergencies, such as in mountain rescue and maritime communications. This has also led to the emergence of new services and products (e.g., Beidou-enabled smart shoulder lamps and smart farms).
3. City Pilots
To promote the wider adoption of Beidou, the MIIT launched 39 pilot cities in 2024, each with innovative applications:
- Notable Cases: Xiongan New Area uses Beidou to manage underground transportation and parking; Qingpu in Shanghai has developed a "Beidou + low-altitude agriculture" system, which reduces water and fertilizer usage by 10% and increases crop yields by 5%; Guangzhou's "Beidou Law Enforcement" shoulder lamps use high-precision positioning and AI to improve enforcement efficiency.
- Second Batch of Pilots: Given the success of the first batch, a second batch is being launched. For example, Zhuzhou is building a city with comprehensive Beidou applications, attracting 188 Beidou-related companies, creating an industry cluster worth 22.96 billion yuan, and deploying 267,000 additional Beidou terminals.
4. Corporate Efforts
Companies are driving the adoption of Beidou, focusing on two key areas:
- Consumer Applications: Automakers (such as SAIC and Geely) have integrated Beidou positioning in new vehicles, with over one million units produced. Smartphone manufacturers have also improved their Beidou support, with 133 million units sold in the first half of this year, and 98% of smartphones supporting Beidou.
- Technical Challenges: To expand Beidou's use in high-value applications (such as autonomous driving and drone operations), two main hurdles need to be overcome: high precision (centimeter- or millimeter-level accuracy) and intelligence (integrating with AI to turn Beidou data into actionable information). For instance, Qianxun Positioning's time and space intelligence services have helped humanoid robots run independently in marathons, demonstrating the value of AI and Beidou.
5. Beidou's Global Expansion
Beidou is moving beyond domestic use to the international market:
- Evolution of Business Models: The focus is shifting from selling equipment to providing operational services, such as establishing overseas cooperation centers and local service platforms to make Beidou more accessible to users worldwide.
- Global Coverage: Qianxun Positioning's services are available in more than 230 countries and regions. The China Time and Space Group is setting up service platforms in key countries to establish local capabilities and truly globalize Beidou.
Conclusion
Beidou, as a core component of time and space information, has evolved from being "usable" to being "user-friendly." With the advancement of city pilots, corporate innovation, and international expansion, it is expected to reach a revenue of one trillion yuan within the next five years. It will become a crucial pillar of the digital economy, bringing more accurate navigation, enhanced emergency response capabilities, and a more intelligent lifestyle to everyday life.