The initial satellite from China’s G60 Starlink initiative was launched from a factory in Shanghai’s Songjiang district, marking a pivotal milestone in China’s push to build a domestic internet communication network. This new system is positioned to rival the international satellite broadband networks operated by SpaceX, the American company led by Elon Musk, with a clear emphasis on expanding access to high-speed internet worldwide.
Projected to grow into a constellation of about twelve thousand orbiting units, the G60 plan envisions the first batch of 108 satellites to reach orbit within the 2024 timeframe. In scale, this initiative would rival existing mega constellations and place China among the leading players pursuing global coverage in low Earth orbit.
Leadership of the project rests with Shanghai Gesi Aerospace Technology, a state-owned enterprise that traces its origins to the Microsatellite Innovation Academy of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, established in 2022. This organizational structure reflects a national strategy to foster advanced space technologies through collaboration between government institutions and industry partners.
In its formal submission to the International Telecommunication Union, the G60 satellites are described as offering a compelling combination of affordability, high performance, and reliable operation. The overarching objective is to deliver broadband internet access to users around the world, bridging gaps in connectivity and enabling new applications across diverse regions and sectors.
G60 Starlink represents the second major low Earth orbit mega-constellation project to emerge in China, following the China Satellite Network Group’s ambitions for the national Guowang, or SatNet, program. The Guowang initiative, announced earlier in 2021, targeted a fleet of about thirteen thousand devices intended to support national communications alongside international broadband services. This sequencing underlines a broad national vision for secure, scalable space-based communication infrastructure.
China continues to pursue rapid deployment of large satellite fleets while navigating regulatory frameworks, spectrum planning, and ITU deadlines. The goal is to ensure that frequency allocations are managed effectively to support global coverage while maintaining compatibility with international standards and avoiding interference with existing networks.
Nearby developments in the global satellite internet landscape include other notable efforts, such as experiments by various entities aimed at leveraging laser-based data transfer links in space to support high-capacity satellite networks. These innovations, including infrared laser technology demonstrated in orbit, illustrate the broader push toward faster, more reliable space-based communications and signal the competitive environment shaping future internet delivery.