Short answer
Umbrella term for any constellation of satellites providing global positioning, navigation, and timing. The four global GNSS systems are GPS (US), GLONASS (Russia), Galileo (EU), and BeiDou (China); QZSS (Japan) and NavIC (India) are regional.
Detailed explanation
GNSS is the generic term for satellite-based positioning, navigation, and timing (PNT) systems with global or regional coverage. Modern receivers typically track several constellations at once — "multi-constellation" tracking — to improve availability under obstructions, reduce dilution of precision, and accelerate first-fix time.
The four global GNSS are GPS (United States, fully operational since 1995), GLONASS (Russia, modernised through 2011), Galileo (European Union, FOC since 2024), and BeiDou (China, BDS-3 FOC since 2020). Each broadcasts in the L-band around 1.1–1.6 GHz with similar civil-signal architectures.
Two regional GNSS exist alongside the global four: QZSS (Quasi-Zenith Satellite System, Japan, optimised for high-elevation coverage over East Asia and Oceania) and NavIC (India, primarily Indian-subcontinent coverage with both L5 and S-band signals). All are interoperable at the L1 / L5 frequencies through common centre frequencies adopted across all major civil signals.
A modern GNSS antenna for high-precision work is designed to receive every public band across all six systems — that's why GNSource flagship survey antennas like the TDXL-CA341 cover BDS B1/B2/B3, GPS L1/L2/L5, GLONASS G1/G2, and Galileo full bands in a single feed.
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High-Precision GNSS Measurement
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GNSS Frequency Band Visualizer
Open the toolRelated terms
GPS
United States DoD-operated GNSS, fully operational since 1995. Broadcasts civil signals on L1 (1575.42 MHz), L2 (1227.6 MHz), and L5 (1176.45 MHz), plus restricted military M-code on L1 and L2.
GLONASS
Russian GNSS, operational since 1995 (re-established 2011 after a coverage gap). Uses FDMA channelisation on legacy L1OF (1602 MHz) and L2OF (1246 MHz) signals; modern CDMA signals (L1OC / L2OC / L3OC) align with the rest of GNSS.
Galileo
European GNSS, fully operational (FOC) since 2024. Civilian-controlled, with signals on E1 (1575.42 MHz, GPS-L1 interoperable), E5a/E5b (1176.45 / 1207.14 MHz), and E6 (1278.75 MHz, carries the free HAS PPP service).
BeiDou
Chinese GNSS, fully operational with BDS-3 since 2020. Broadcasts global civilian signals on B1I/B1C (1561 / 1575.42 MHz), B2a/B2b (1176.45 / 1207.14 MHz), and B3I (1268.52 MHz), plus the unique BDS RDSS short-message service.
SBAS
Regional augmentation services that broadcast corrections and integrity data over GNSS L1 / L5 frequencies to improve accuracy and safety. Examples: WAAS (US), EGNOS (Europe), MSAS (Japan), GAGAN (India), SDCM (Russia), KASS (Korea), BDSBAS (China).