Key Takeaways
1. Chinese firms plan to launch over 200,000 internet satellites into low Earth orbit, presenting their proposals to the International Telecommunication Union (ITU).
2. Two main projects, CTC-1 and CTC-2, aim to deploy 96,714 satellites each.
3. The applications were submitted by the newly established Institute of Radio Spectrum Utilisation and Technological Innovation in Hebei province.
4. The move highlights the growing rivalry between the U.S. and China in the space-based internet market, with SpaceX currently leading with its Starlink network.
5. The U.S. Federal Communications Commission (FCC) recently approved SpaceX’s expansion of its satellite fleet, emphasizing the competitive nature of orbital regulation and the importance of early applications.
According to a report from Xinhua, Chinese firms have officially laid out their ambitions to send an astonishing number of internet satellites—over 200,000—into low Earth orbit. These plans were presented to the International Telecommunication Union (ITU), a United Nations agency, around the same time Beijing raised concerns about the congestion of space resources caused by SpaceX, led by Elon Musk.
Project Details
The documents reveal that around a dozen proposals were submitted by various Chinese operators at the end of last month. Most of the satellites are part of two main projects called CTC-1 and CTC-2, each designed to launch 96,714 satellites. The applications were filed by the newly established Institute of Radio Spectrum Utilisation and Technological Innovation, which was registered in Hebei province on December 30—just a day after the submissions were sent to the ITU.
Competitive Landscape
This significant increase in filings underscores the growing rivalry between the U.S. and China to dominate the market of space-based internet systems. At present, SpaceX has a considerable advantage with its Starlink network. The rush to file applications is driven by the nature of orbital regulation, where radio frequencies and orbital slots are limited; thus, early applicants, referred to as “first movers,” are often given priority in securing their rights.
Recent Developments
This decision comes shortly after the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) in the U.S. approved SpaceX’s plan to deploy an extra 7,500 second-generation satellites. These satellites must be operational by 2031, which would expand the authorized Starlink fleet to 15,000, although the company has requested permission for as many as 30,000.
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