China has taken a significant step towards establishing its own broadband internet satellite network, launching the first batch of 18 satellites for its “Qianfan” (Spacesail) constellation this week, CNN reports.
This launch marks the beginning of a project that aims to deploy 14,000 satellites into low Earth orbit (LEO), creating a direct competitor to SpaceX’s dominant Starlink network.
The “Spacesail” constellation, dubbed China’s answer to Starlink by domestic media, joins a growing number of global initiatives seeking to provide broadband satellite internet services. Starlink, however, remains the frontrunner with over 6,000 satellites already in orbit and ambitious plans to expand to 42,000.
While traditional internet access via cables remains prevalent, satellite internet offers crucial connectivity for remote, underserved, and disaster-affected areas. China, aiming to lead in fields like autonomous vehicles and other internet-enabled technologies, sees satellite internet as a key component of its development.
“Spacesail” is one of three planned mega-constellations in China, with a total of nearly 40,000 satellites slated for LEO deployment in the coming years.
This launch underscores China’s ongoing commitment to expanding its commercial space sector, a key element of its broader strategy to become a global space power. The country has already achieved significant progress in its ambitious national space program, aiming to land astronauts on the moon by 2030 while simultaneously launching military-linked satellites for navigation, communication, and surveillance.
Experts believe controlling LEO broadband constellations could grant China significant advantages, including the ability to offer services both domestically and internationally. This could bolster Beijing’s diplomatic influence, control over data flow, and national security.
The successful rollout of “Spacesail”, operated by the Shanghai government-backed SSST, will test China’s capacity to mass-produce and launch satellites on a demanding timeline. The constellation is projected to reach over 600 satellites by 2025 and expand to 14,000 by 2030, providing broadband internet coverage to the majority of the global population, according to state media.
