News Desk

The Advocate Post: China has made a significant move toward competing with SpaceX’s Starlink by launching the first satellites for its planned 14,000-satellite constellation, Qianfan, also known as ‘Spacesail’. On Tuesday, 18 satellites were successfully placed into low Earth orbit (LEO) during the inaugural launch of this government-backed project, according to state media.

The Qianfan constellation is being promoted as China’s response to Starlink, the U.S.-based satellite network, which currently has over 6,000 satellites in orbit and aims to expand to 42,000. Starlink is expected to maintain its lead in the satellite internet industry due to its early start and advanced technology.

While most internet users rely on ground-based infrastructure like cables, satellite internet is becoming increasingly important for providing connectivity in rural, underserved, and disaster-affected areas. It is also crucial for the development of emerging technologies, such as autonomous vehicles, which China aspires to dominate.

Qianfan is part of a broader Chinese initiative, with plans for three large-scale satellite constellations that could result in nearly 40,000 Chinese satellites being launched into LEO in the coming years. These “mega constellations” refer to extensive networks of satellites that orbit the Earth to provide global internet coverage.