GNSS Chip Market Size and Share
Market Overview
| Study Period | 2019 - 2030 |
|---|---|
| Market Size (2025) | USD 8.37 Billion |
| Market Size (2030) | USD 11 Billion |
| Growth Rate (2025 - 2030) | 5.62% CAGR |
| Fastest Growing Market | Asia Pacific |
| Largest Market | Asia-Pacific |
| Market Concentration | Medium |
Major Players
*Disclaimer: Major Players sorted in no particular order Image © Mordor Intelligence. Reuse requires attribution under CC BY 4.0. |
|
GNSS Chip Market Analysis by Mordor Intelligence
The GNSS chip market size is USD 8.37 billion in 2025 and is forecast to reach USD 11.00 billion by 2030, advancing at a 5.62% CAGR during the period. Mounting demand for multi-constellation reception across smartphones, autonomous vehicles, and precision agriculture keeps volume growth steady while opening premium niches for centimeter-level accuracy solutions. Evolving 5G timing requirements, along with BeiDou’s full global deployment and sovereign programs in India and the Middle East, continue to diversify revenue streams for GNSS chip vendors. Competitive intensity remains moderate, with integrated mobile SoCs driving high-volume cost pressure even as specialist suppliers carve out profitable positions in survey-grade, anti-jamming, and ultra-low-power designs. Energy efficiency and secure positioning are now core differentiators as customers weigh battery endurance against the rising threat of jamming and spoofing.
Key Report Takeaways
- By device type, smartphones held 55.1% of the GNSS chip market share in 2024; drones are projected to expand at a 7.8% CAGR through 2030.
- By frequency band, single-frequency L1 captured 67.2% of the GNSS chip market size in 2024; multi-frequency solutions are forecasted to post an 8.1% CAGR through 2030.
- By end-user industry, consumer electronics led with a 36.4% revenue share of the GNSS chip market in 2024; agriculture is projected to advance at a 7.7% CAGR through 2030.
- By application, navigation commanded 41.8% of the GNSS chip market size in 2024; timing and synchronization are growing at a 7.6% CAGR through 2030.
- By geography, the Asia-Pacific region accounted for a 42.6% revenue share of the GNSS chip market in 2024 and is projected to rise at a 6.4% CAGR.
Global GNSS Chip Market Trends and Insights
Drivers Impact Analysis
| Driver | (~) % Impact on CAGR Forecast | Geographic Relevance | Impact Timeline |
|---|---|---|---|
| Surge in multi-frequency GNSS smartphone shipments | +1.2% | Global, with APAC leading adoption | Medium term (2-4 years) |
| Rising ADAS and autonomous-driving precision needs | +0.9% | North America and EU, expanding to APAC | Long term (≥ 4 years) |
| Expansion of precision agriculture and logistics tracking | +0.8% | Global, with strong growth in Americas and APAC | Medium term (2-4 years) |
| Centimeter-level positioning for drone last-mile delivery | +0.6% | North America and EU initially, global expansion | Short term (≤ 2 years) |
| Miniaturized dual-band chips for medical wearables | +0.4% | Global, led by North America and Europe | Long term (≥ 4 years) |
| Sovereign constellation investments spurring local demand | +0.7% | APAC core, spill-over to MEA and Latin America | Long term (≥ 4 years) |
| Source: Mordor Intelligence | |||
Surge in Multi-frequency GNSS Smartphone Shipments
Premium handsets now integrate dual-band L1/L5 and even tri-band receivers, which enhance location accuracy from meters to decimeters, enabling reliable augmented-reality navigation in dense urban cores.[1]STMicroelectronics, “Teseo VI GNSS Receiver Family,” STMicroelectronics, st.com Flagship launches across China, South Korea, and the United States accelerate the refresh cycle because older single-frequency designs cannot support emerging indoor–outdoor continuity. Developers leverage the improved accuracy to enrich gaming, social-media tagging, and emergency-caller location services, which in turn sustains a high-volume pull for advanced chipsets inside the GNSS chip market.
Rising ADAS and Autonomous-Driving Precision Needs
Level 3 and higher autonomy demands consistent lane-level positioning, prompting automakers to pair multi-frequency GNSS with IMUs and vehicle-to-everything radios.[2]IEEE Standards Association, “IEEE Standards for Navigation and Positioning,” IEEE, ieee.org Survey-grade accuracy elevates silicon content per vehicle and justifies premium ASPs, while over-the-air software functions multiply recurring revenue potential for chip suppliers that offer firmware-upgradable navigation stacks.
Expansion of Precision Agriculture and Logistics Tracking
RTK-enabled farm machinery reduces seed overlap and fertilizer waste by up to 20%, and rugged asset trackers cut theft losses for high-value freight, together broadening the GNSS chip market beyond consumer devices.[3]NovAtel Inc., “Construction, Mining and Industrial Applications,” NovAtel, novatel.com Regional subsidies in the United States, Brazil and India sweeten growers’ return on investment and speed volume adoption of dual-band modules tolerant of dust, vibration and temperature extremes.
Centimeter-Level Positioning for Drone Last-mile Delivery
Pilot projects in the United States and Europe routinely achieve 5 cm landing accuracy by fusing RTK GNSS with visual odometry, unlocking fully automated parcel drop-off in suburban backyards.[4]General Dynamics Mission Systems, “GPS III Satellites,” gdmissionsystems.com Commercial scaling of such services amplifies the demand for lightweight, low-power, multi-frequency receivers that can coexist with cameras and LiDAR on battery-constrained airframes.
Restraints Impact Analysis
| Restraint | (~) % Impact on CAGR Forecast | Geographic Relevance | Impact Timeline |
|---|---|---|---|
| GNSS vulnerability to jamming and spoofing | -0.8% | Global, concentrated in conflict zones and Eastern Europe | Short term (≤ 2 years) |
| High power draw of multi-constellation chipsets | -0.6% | Global, particularly affecting battery-powered devices | Medium term (2-4 years) |
| Advanced RF-front-end node supply constraints | -0.5% | Global, with acute impact in APAC manufacturing hubs | Short term (≤ 2 years) |
| Regulatory delays in L-band spectrum re-allocation | -0.3% | North America and EU primarily, with global implications | Long term (≥ 4 years) |
| Source: Mordor Intelligence | |||
GNSS Vulnerability to Jamming and Spoofing
More than 1,000 interference incidents were reported by European aviation authorities in 2024, resulting in rerouting and in-flight system resets. Civil agencies now mandate multi-constellation reception, interference detection, and encrypted services, which inflate hardware costs and complicate certification timelines for GNSS chip market vendors.
High Power Draw of Multi-constellation Chipsets
Continuous tracking across four constellations raises the active current to 90–100 mW, five times higher than single-system designs, thereby reducing battery life in wearables and asset tags. Synaptics’ snapshot navigation architecture reduces average consumption by 80%, but trade-offs in reacquisition time persist, limiting its use to latency-tolerant workloads.
Segment Analysis
By Device Type: Smartphone Volume Versus Drone Upside
Smartphones accounted for 55.1% of the GNSS chip market size in 2024, driven by the widespread adoption of location-based services in consumer devices, according to. Although shipment growth is maturing, dual-band upgrades sustain silicon value per handset, enabling suppliers to maintain their margins. Tablets, wearables, and personal trackers represent steady but lower-ASP outlets. In-vehicle systems post mid-single-digit growth as automakers embed navigation redundancy for ADAS.
Drones, with a modest base today, are forecasted to grow at a 7.8% CAGR and thus provide the fastest incremental revenue among device classes. Commercial inspection, delivery, and precision-spray agriculture collectively demand centimeter accuracy under strict weight and power budgets, creating a premium for compact multi-frequency receivers. Low-power asset trackers and specialty industrial devices round out niche demand with ruggedized requirements, reinforcing design diversity in the GNSS chip market.
Note: Segment shares of all individual segments available upon report purchase
By Frequency Band: L1 Dominance Amid Multi-Frequency Momentum
Cost-sensitive consumer electronics are expected to maintain a single-frequency L1 solution at 67.2% of the GNSS chip market share in 2024, solidifying their role as the entry-level option. However, urban-canyon multipath and ionospheric errors limit L1 performance, prompting automotive, surveying, and drone clients to adopt dual- or tri-band architectures.
Multi-frequency shipments are rising at an 8.1% CAGR, helped by falling filter prices and new quad-band single-die offerings that streamline board design. For many tier-one automotive platforms, dual-band L1/L5 is now a hard requirement, while aviation regulators move toward mandatory L5 for safety-critical navigation.
By End-user Industry: Consumer Electronics Scale, Agriculture Acceleration
Consumer electronics accounted for 36.4% of the GNSS chip market size in 2024, driven by the refresh cycles of smartphones and wearables. Price elasticity limits ASP increases, so vendors lean on integration with Wi-Fi and Bluetooth to stay competitive.
Agriculture is forecast to grow at a rate of 7.7% annually as RTK guidance and autonomous tractors enhance input efficiency. The segment values accuracy and robustness over die size, allowing higher margins. Automotive customers seek ISO 26262-qualified chips and secure update pipelines, which add complexity but offer longer program lifecycles. Defense and public safety niches demand anti-jam features and encrypted signals, underscoring the heterogeneous nature of the GNSS chip market.
Note: Segment shares of all individual segments available upon report purchase
By Application: Navigation Scale, Timing Upswing
Navigation remained the largest bucket at 41.8% of the GNSS chip market size in 2024. Its growth flattens but still absorbs vast L1 volumes. Positioning and mapping for surveying and BIM workflows retain loyal professional users willing to pay for centimeter precision and post-processing services.
Timing and synchronization are scaling at the fastest rate, with a 7.6% CAGR, because 5G macro and small-cell rollouts require sub-microsecond phase alignment. Power utilities and data centers replicate this demand as they modernize grid and server timing. Specialized timing receivers with oven-controlled oscillators command premiums and help diversify revenue beyond pure navigation.
Geography Analysis
Asia-Pacific held 42.6% of the GNSS chip market size in 2024, supported by China’s BeiDou build-out, high-volume smartphone assembly, and strong local demand for precision agriculture equipment. Government incentives for indigenous silicon, combined with the growing ecosystem around India’s NavIC and Japan’s QZSS, further accelerate regional uptake. Suppliers that certify full BeiDou and NavIC compliance gain preferred-vendor status, locking in design wins with OEMs across handsets and farm machinery.
North America contributes a stable share anchored in automotive ADAS, defense contracts, and large-scale 5G timing deployments. Federal procurement emphasizes resilience and encrypted M-code capability, prompting vendors to adopt anti-jam front-ends and SAASM compatibility. The region’s thriving drone-delivery pilots and Silicon Valley wearable brands maintain a technology leadership loop that keeps ASPs elevated despite lower unit volumes.
Europe prioritizes the adoption of Galileo dual-frequency in both aviation and road transport regulations. The 2024 spike in spoofing incidents over Eastern Europe accelerated airline retrofits with multi-constellation receivers. Meanwhile, South America, the Middle East and Africa adopt GNSS to bolster smart-city builds, mining automation and climate-smart farming. Brazil leverages precision soybean planting to defend its export competitiveness; Gulf countries embed GNSS into mega infrastructure projects; and pan-African mobile operators invest in 5G timing to leapfrog fixed networks, cumulatively enlarging the GNSS chip market.
Competitive Landscape
The GNSS chip market is moderately consolidated: Qualcomm, MediaTek, and Broadcom collectively dominate consumer-grade volumes, while u-blox, STMicroelectronics, and Trimble capture precision niches. Smartphone SoCs from Qualcomm and MediaTek embed GNSS alongside cellular and Wi-Fi, securing multi-year design slots with handset OEMs. Their integration prowess pressures discrete receiver vendors on price, but also leaves performance gaps that specialists can exploit.
u-blox, Septentrio, and Unicore focus on multi-band, multi-constellation parts tuned for centimeter-level accuracy. STMicroelectronics’ Teseo VI quad-band die pairs low power with survey-grade performance, making inroads in automotive Telematics Control Units. Trimble leverages its software ecosystem to bundle receivers with correction services for construction and agriculture.
Strategic moves in 2024-25 include u-blox and Topcon’s joint service, which fuses hardware with RTK network subscriptions. Additionally, Quectel’s LG580P module extends Broadcom silicon into industrial IoT, and Synaptics launches the ultra-low-power SYN4778 for wearables. Supply-chain resilience has become a key procurement criterion, prompting handset OEMs to dual-source across Taiwanese and European fabs.
GNSS Chip Industry Leaders
-
Qualcomm Technologies, Inc.
-
Mediatek Inc.
-
STMicroelectronics N.V.
-
Broadcom Corporation
-
Intel Corporation
- *Disclaimer: Major Players sorted in no particular order
Recent Industry Developments
- March 2025: Quectel released the LG580P module with enhanced multi-constellation support for autonomous systems.
- January 2025: u-blox debuted an ultra-low-power GNSS chip aimed at health wearables.
- December 2024: STMicroelectronics unveiled the Teseo VI quad-band single-die receivers.
- November 2024: Synaptics introduced the SYN4778 GNSS IC with 80% lower power usage.
Global GNSS Chip Market Report Scope
A global navigation satellite system (GNSS) primarily refers to a constellation of satellites, which provides signals from space that transmit positioning and timing data to GNSS receivers. The receivers then use this data to determine various factors, such as location, speed, and altitude, combined with several sensors. The study covers the market numbers and unit shipments based on device type and uses of GNSS in different end-user industries across various geographies. Further, the study also covers the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the market.
| Smartphones |
| Tablets and Wearables |
| Personal Tracking Devices |
| Low-power Asset Trackers |
| In-vehicle Systems |
| Drones |
| Other Device Types |
| Single-frequency L1 |
| Dual-frequency L1/L5 |
| Dual-frequency L1/L2 |
| Multi-frequency (Tri-band and above) |
| Automotive |
| Consumer Electronics |
| Aviation |
| Agriculture |
| Construction and Mining |
| Defense and Public Safety |
| Other End-users |
| Navigation |
| Positioning and Mapping |
| Timing and Synchronization |
| Remote Sensing |
| North America | United States |
| Canada | |
| Mexico | |
| South America | Brazil |
| Argentina | |
| Rest of South America | |
| Europe | Germany |
| United Kingdom | |
| France | |
| Italy | |
| Rest of Europe | |
| Asia-Pacific | China |
| Japan | |
| South Korea | |
| India | |
| Rest of Asia-Pacific | |
| Middle East | Saudi Arabia |
| United Arab Emirates | |
| Rest of Middle East | |
| Africa | South Africa |
| Rest of Africa |
| By Device Type | Smartphones | |
| Tablets and Wearables | ||
| Personal Tracking Devices | ||
| Low-power Asset Trackers | ||
| In-vehicle Systems | ||
| Drones | ||
| Other Device Types | ||
| By Frequency Band | Single-frequency L1 | |
| Dual-frequency L1/L5 | ||
| Dual-frequency L1/L2 | ||
| Multi-frequency (Tri-band and above) | ||
| By End-user Industry | Automotive | |
| Consumer Electronics | ||
| Aviation | ||
| Agriculture | ||
| Construction and Mining | ||
| Defense and Public Safety | ||
| Other End-users | ||
| By Application | Navigation | |
| Positioning and Mapping | ||
| Timing and Synchronization | ||
| Remote Sensing | ||
| By Geography | North America | United States |
| Canada | ||
| Mexico | ||
| South America | Brazil | |
| Argentina | ||
| Rest of South America | ||
| Europe | Germany | |
| United Kingdom | ||
| France | ||
| Italy | ||
| Rest of Europe | ||
| Asia-Pacific | China | |
| Japan | ||
| South Korea | ||
| India | ||
| Rest of Asia-Pacific | ||
| Middle East | Saudi Arabia | |
| United Arab Emirates | ||
| Rest of Middle East | ||
| Africa | South Africa | |
| Rest of Africa | ||
Key Questions Answered in the Report
How large is the GNSS chip market in 2025?
The GNSS chip market size stands at USD 8.37 billion in 2025 and is set to reach USD 11.00 billion by 2030.
Which device category leads GNSS chip demand?
Smartphones account for 55.1% of 2024 revenue, reflecting their ubiquity and the steady rollout of dual-band positioning features.
What is the fastest-growing GNSS application?
Timing & synchronization is expanding at a 7.6% CAGR as 5G networks and power utilities seek sub-microsecond accuracy.
Which region shows the highest growth?
Asia-Pacific leads in both share and momentum, rising at a 6.4% CAGR on the back of BeiDou expansion and OEM manufacturing scale.
Why are multi-frequency chips gaining popularity?
Dual- and tri-band receivers overcome urban multipath errors and deliver centimeter-level accuracy vital for drones, ADAS and precision farming.
What are the main risks facing GNSS adoption?
Jamming, spoofing, and high power consumption add cost and design complexity, prompting investments in anti-jam hardware and low-power architectures.
Page last updated on:
