Iran’s Plan to Abandon GPS Signals a Broader Geopolitical and Technological Shift
By Jasim Al-Azzawi, Analyst and Journalist | Published on July 27, 2025
In the wake of recent military confrontations and escalating geopolitical tensions, Iran has revealed intentions to move away from reliance on the United States’ Global Positioning System (GPS), instead turning to alternative satellite navigation technologies such as China’s BeiDou system. This decision, emerging from vulnerabilities exposed during the brief yet intense US-Israeli strikes against Iran earlier this year, highlights a far-reaching transformation — marking not just a technological pivot, but a significant realignment in global power structures and security strategies.
Military Conflict Exposes Technological Vulnerabilities
During the twelve-day conflict marked by US and Israeli military operations against Iran, Iranian forces and commercial vessels in the Gulf of Oman suffered repeated GPS signal disruptions. These interference episodes, whether caused by adversarial jamming or internal issues within the GPS infrastructure itself, alarmed Iranian authorities. The disruptions underscored the pitfalls of heavy dependence on a navigation system controlled by a geopolitical rival.
Ehsan Chitsaz, Iran’s deputy communications minister, acknowledged these concerns in an interview with Iranian media in mid-July. He explained that internal jamming and external interference with GPS signals have accelerated Iran’s plans to seek alternative satellite navigation solutions, specifically the BeiDou system. The government is reportedly moving to transition critical sectors such as transportation, agriculture, and internet services from GPS to BeiDou—a development that points to Tehran’s strategic priority to reduce dependence on US-managed technological infrastructure.
A New Chapter in Global Technological Realignment
While this shift may at first glance appear to be a practical response to immediate military and communication vulnerabilities, it is in fact emblematic of a broader geopolitical challenge. For decades, Western powers, especially the United States, have dominated global technological frameworks—ranging from operating systems and internet infrastructure to telecommunications and satellite navigation.
This dominance has created a widespread global dependency on Western-controlled systems, which some nations now view as significant security liabilities. Revelations since 2013 concerning extensive surveillance capabilities embedded in Western technologies have only deepened mistrust. Iran’s alignment with China’s BeiDou system sends a signal to other nations wary of ceding digital sovereignty to rival powers: the era of unquestioned dependence on American-dominated infrastructure is waning.
The Rise of Rival Satellite Systems and Digital Sovereignty
Iran’s turn to BeiDou is part of a larger pattern wherein countries are developing or endorsing alternative regional or national satellite navigation systems. Europe’s Galileo and Russia’s GLONASS systems are similarly designed to reduce reliance on the US GPS network. Each system represents an attempt to secure sovereign control over vital navigation and communication functions, crucial both for civilian life and military effectiveness.
Such measures are not limited to satellite technology. During the conflict, Israel’s precision targeting of Iranian nuclear scientists and senior military officials raised suspicions that intelligence services had exploited telecommunication vulnerabilities, tracking individuals via mobile devices. Responding to this threat, Iranian authorities publicly discouraged citizens from using the US-owned messaging app WhatsApp, citing concerns over data leaks to Israeli intelligence. This move reflects broader anxieties about Western-owned platforms serving as instruments in digital intelligence operations rather than neutral forums.
Toward a Controlled and Segmented Digital Landscape
Beyond satellite navigation, Tehran has been actively developing its own National Information Network—a domestic intranet designed to provide government authorities greater control over internet access and usage. Analysts suggest Iran may expand this initiative, potentially adopting censorship and surveillance mechanisms similar to the “Great Firewall” of China.
This digital disengagement from Western platforms and infrastructures aligns Iran more closely with China, a key partner in the country’s emerging geopolitical and strategic posture. This cooperation transcends commercial exchange; Beijing offers Iran technologies vital for achieving genuine digital sovereignty and safeguarding military and civilian communications from foreign interference.
The Broader Geopolitical Context: Belt and Road Initiative
China’s interest in Iran fits into the broader framework of the ambitious Belt and Road Initiative (BRI). While widely recognized for infrastructure and trade development, the BRI also serves as a vehicle for constructing an alternative global order—one that challenges Western hegemony. Iran, with its strategic location and role as a major energy supplier, has become an essential partner in this expanding sphere of Chinese influence.
The Dawn of a New “Tech Cold War”
The growing detachment of countries like Iran from Western technology ecosystems signals the emergence of a nascent “tech cold war.” This is a conflict characterized by low-intensity but high-stakes competition over control of critical digital infrastructure, including navigation systems, communication networks, data flows, and financial platforms.
Future choices about technology adoption will rely less on technical superiority or global coverage and increasingly on political allegiance and perceived security assurances. This trend could diminish the technological advantages traditionally held by Western powers while reshaping the contours of international relations and power dynamics for years to come.
Conclusion
Iran’s decision to abandon GPS in favor of China’s BeiDou is more than a tactical adjustment—it is a pointed message reflecting widespread unease with Western technological dominance and surveillance practices. As more nations reevaluate their reliance on US-controlled systems, the global landscape is tilting toward multiple competing tech blocs, each underpinned by geopolitical loyalties and strategic calculations. The rivalry for digital supremacy has arrived, and the consequences will reverberate far beyond the Middle East.
The views expressed in this article are the author’s own and do not necessarily reflect Al Jazeera’s editorial stance.
