China’s ambitious satellite megaprojects aim to rival Elon Musk’s Starlink, marking a significant push into the competitive low Earth orbit (LEO) internet market. With SpaceX’s Starlink operating nearly 7,000 satellites and serving around 5 million customers across 100 countries, China is working to close the gap by planning its own constellations—Qianfan, Guo Wang, and Honghu-3—targeting a combined total of around 38,000 satellites.
The competition extends beyond Starlink. European-based Eutelsat OneWeb has launched over 630 LEO satellites, and Amazon’s Project Kuiper plans for more than 3,000, although it has only launched two prototypes so far. Despite these formidable players, China’s foray into megaconstellations is about more than internet connectivity. Experts see the move as both a response to Starlink’s success and a strategic initiative to advance its geopolitical and national security interests.
Starlink has proven its ability to connect remote regions to high-speed internet, offering uncensored access to global websites and apps. This freedom of access, however, poses challenges to China’s censorship policies. Steve Feldstein of the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace explains, “For China, this presents a real threat. Starlink’s ability to bypass censorship forces China to develop an alternative to maintain control.”
China’s strategy may also appeal to nations seeking controlled internet services. Blaine Curcio of Orbital Gateway Consulting notes, “China could market itself as the provider of censored internet if that’s what certain countries desire.” Potential regions for Chinese satellite services include Russia, Afghanistan, Syria, and parts of Africa, where existing relationships, such as Huawei’s role in building 70% of Africa’s 4G infrastructure, could provide an advantage.
Beyond commercial goals, satellite constellations hold national security value. The utility of Starlink during the Ukraine conflict, where it enabled connected drone warfare and maintained communication infrastructure, has underscored the military advantages of satellite technology. Feldstein highlights, “China sees this as critical to its national security goals, especially in scenarios where ground-based infrastructure is disrupted.”
China’s megaprojects face steep challenges, including the technological and financial demands of scaling to compete with established players. However, the country’s determination reflects its broader strategic goals, blending internet connectivity with geopolitical influence and military preparedness.
China’s satellite megaprojects reflect more than just a technological ambition—they reveal the country’s strategic focus on controlling information and asserting influence in an increasingly interconnected world. While Starlink champions open internet access, China’s approach underscores a stark contrast, prioritizing censorship and geopolitical leverage. This raises critical questions about the future of global internet governance and whether satellite constellations will deepen divides or foster new forms of cooperation in the digital age.
Featured image courtesy of Current Affairs – Adda247
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