China to Issue Satellite Internet Licenses Soon; Commercial Service Years Away
Chinese authorities are anticipated to issue satellite internet licenses in the near future, a significant milestone toward establishing commercial operations in the sector. Recent developments include China Satellite Network Group conducting five rounds of low-Earth orbit satellite launches between late July and mid-August, increasing its orbital constellation to 72 satellites. Despite this progress, experts indicate that achieving global coverage comparable to Starlink will require an additional two to three years. This delay is attributed to the currently limited number of satellites in orbit and the necessity for further technological improvements in user terminals. At present, domestic satellite internet services primarily rely on high-throughput satellites, such as APSTAR-6D and Zhongxing-26, to support specific industry applications rather than general consumer use. Widespread adoption by ordinary consumers is expected to take more time as infrastructure matures. This progression marks a crucial step in China's strategic expansion into the global satellite internet market, although full commercial viability and competitive global reach remain medium-term goals rather than immediate realities.
Wire timeline
China to Issue Satellite Internet Licenses Soon; Commercial Service Years Away
Chinese authorities are anticipated to issue satellite internet licenses in the near future, a significant milestone toward establishing commercial operations in the sector. Recent developments include China Satellite Network Group conducting five rounds of low-Earth orbit satellite launches between late July and mid-August, increasing its orbital constellation to 72 satellites. Despite this progress, experts indicate that achieving global coverage comparable to Starlink will require an additional two to three years. This delay is attributed to the currently limited number of satellites in orbit and the necessity for further technological improvements in user terminals. At present, domestic satellite internet services primarily rely on high-throughput satellites, such as APSTAR-6D and Zhongxing-26, to support specific industry applications rather than general consumer use. Widespread adoption by ordinary consumers is expected to take more time as infrastructure matures. This progression marks a crucial step in China's strategic expansion into the global satellite internet market, although full commercial viability and competitive global reach remain medium-term goals rather than immediate realities.
TechNode