China has opened its BeiDou navigation data to the public for the first time. 

High-precision positioning data from the national BeiDou reference station network will be opened to key industries and market players, the Ministry of Natural Resources said Friday.

Allowing public data from the reference stations to circulate, in accordance with regulations, is seen as a step toward unlocking its economic and social value.

Many industries used to build their own stations, which cost a lot to maintain, according to Chen Ming, director of the Basic Surveying and Mapping Division at the ministry. Data sharing means BeiDou services can be used in autonomous driving, the low-altitude economy, urban renewal and precise governance, he added. 

Reference stations are the ground-based infrastructure that enables BeiDou to deliver navigation and positioning services.

The system of 7,569 stations now covers the entire country, providing stable data for land planning, disaster warning, engineering construction and urban governance.