“The era of blind, naive dependence on US-controlled infrastructure is rapidly coming to an end,” Al Jazeera’s website noted in a July 27 article commenting on Iran’s growing troubles with GPS signal disruptions and its move to explore adoption of China’s BeiDou system. The article stated that this shift sends a “clear signal.” According to Iran’s Hamshahri newspaper, the country is drafting a plan to migrate its positioning services, gradually shifting key sectors such as transportation navigation, agricultural monitoring, and the Internet of Things from GPS to China’s BeiDou Navigation Satellite System.

Iran’s Deputy Minister of Communications and Information Technology, Ehsan Chit Saz, revealed this development in an interview with Hamshahri earlier this month. He stated, “The BeiDou system not only has an advanced architecture and high positioning accuracy—particularly with significant coverage advantages in Asia—but, crucially, its control lies entirely in China’s hands, rather than being subject to U.S. oversight.”

Al Jazeera noted that attacks by the United States and Israel have exposed a new vulnerability in Iran: during the 12-day conflict, Iran and vessels in surrounding waters experienced repeated GPS signal disruptions. The Israeli military’s assassinations of several Iranian nuclear scientists and senior commanders also raised concerns about infiltration of telecommunications systems and the use of mobile phones to track individuals’ locations. The article concluded that Western platforms are no longer trusted as mere channels of communication but are increasingly seen as tools in a broader digital intelligence war.

In addition, according to Hamshahri, GPS in the country has remained unstable since the Iran-Israel conflict. Due to security concerns, Iran’s domestic systems have at times deliberately implemented signal jamming. In the interview, Chit Saz admitted that technical data shows these measures have not effectively improved national security; instead, they have harmed millions of internet users and thousands of businesses. “It is precisely these internal disruptions that have prompted us to seek alternatives like BeiDou,” Chit Saz said.

According to a July 27 report by Iran’s Student News Agency, domestic tech companies in Iran are working to enable multi-system hybrid positioning through software upgrades. When one system is disrupted, devices can switch to others to maintain accurate positioning. The BeiDou system is emerging as a reliable alternative for like-minded countries, with many newer smartphones—particularly Chinese brands—already fully compatible with it. The report noted that turning to systems like BeiDou and strengthening domestic infrastructure is not a matter of choice, but a necessary condition for ensuring sustainable security and safeguarding the well-being of citizens.

According to the 2025 White Paper on the Development of China’s Satellite Navigation and Positioning Services Industry, BeiDou, as a core global satellite navigation system recognized by the United Nations, has signed cooperation agreements with Russia, Pakistan, the Arab League, Saudi Arabia, Belarus, and others. It has been fully integrated into the standard systems of 11 international organizations in fields such as civil aviation, maritime affairs, and mobile communications, steadily expanding its international network of partners. BeiDou products have been exported to over 140 countries and regions, with CORS (Continuously Operating Reference Stations) built in more than 30 African countries—including Nigeria and Tunisia—providing high-precision positioning services for local land surveying, water management, transportation, agriculture, forestry, mining, vehicle management, and meteorological monitoring.

At the same time, BeiDou’s international cooperation and exchange efforts are continuing to deepen. In addition to strengthening collaboration with Russia in satellite navigation, China has also signed bilateral agreements with South Africa and Nigeria on cooperation in the application of the BeiDou Satellite Navigation System.

Previously, some foreign media claimed that the BeiDou system is challenging the global dominance of the U.S. GPS system. In response, Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning stated that China’s scientific and technological innovation and industrial development are never aimed at any particular country. “China’s BeiDou is also the world’s BeiDou,” she said. “We will continue to uphold openness and cooperation, mutual benefit and win-win outcomes, and work with other countries to ensure that more advanced scientific and technological achievements serve the people and benefit all of humanity.”

Editor: Zhiyu Wang