China achieved a significant milestone in the satellite internet industry on Tuesday with the successful launch of 18 Qianfan satellites aboard a Long March-6 rocket from the Taiyuan Satellite Launch Center in Shanxi Province. This marks the inaugural deployment of the Qianfan megaconstellation, also known as G60, which aims to create China’s version of SpaceX’s Starlink.
The Qianfan project, initiated in 2023, plans to deploy over 15,000 low Earth orbit (LEO) satellites to enhance communication services across China. By the end of 2025, the constellation is expected to include 648 satellites, with a goal of achieving global coverage by 2027 and a total of 15,000 satellites by 2030. These satellites will provide high-speed internet, particularly in remote or under-served areas.
Professor Kang Guohua of Nanjing University of Aeronautics and Astronautics highlighted the project’s potential to bridge the digital divide and improve infrastructure in less connected regions. Unlike Starlink’s 5,500 satellites, the Qianfan constellation emphasizes multimedia and broadband capabilities to cater to diverse user needs.
While Starlink has made considerable progress globally, Qianfan focuses on domestic high-quality service with plans to expand internationally as technology matures. Kang also noted the need for global cooperation to address space debris and collision risks associated with dense satellite constellations.
China’s broader satellite endeavors include the G60, GW Constellation, and Landspace’s Honghu-3 projects, with a total planned deployment of nearly 40,000 satellites, signaling rapid growth in China’s commercial aerospace sector.
