DIGIVESTASI - A state-owned Chinese company is reportedly preparing to launch 15,000 satellites into Low Earth Orbit (LEO). This satellite constellation is designed to compete with Elon Musk's global internet network, Starlink.

The first satellite launch has been successfully completed at the Taiyuan Satellite Centre, one of China’s major launch facilities located in the northern Shanxi province and managed by Shanghai Spacecom Satellite Technology (SSST).

SSST plans to launch 108 satellites this year and aims for 648 satellites by 2025. The satellite service is expected to provide global network coverage by 2027 and to have 15,000 satellites in orbit before 2030, according to a Reuters report on Tuesday (August 13, 2024).

This satellite deployment is part of SSST’s ambitious plan known as 'Thousand Constellations' or 'G60 Starlink Plan,' which aims to create a broadband satellite network comparable to Starlink. Currently, Starlink dominates the commercial broadband satellite market with around 5,500 satellites, serving general consumers, businesses, and government agencies.

The competition in Low Earth Orbit also has military implications that could impact the balance of power among major nations. LEO satellites operate at altitudes between 300 km and 2,000 km from Earth’s surface, offering lower operational costs and more efficient transmission compared to satellites in higher orbits.

Starlink itself already has tens of thousands of users in the United States and plans to add tens of thousands more satellites to its system. Research groups from the People's Liberation Army (PLA) of China have studied the use of Starlink in the context of the war in Ukraine over the past two years, issuing warnings about potential risks if China were to become involved in a military conflict with the U.S. In January, PLA publications outlined how Starlink could pose a threat to the security of various countries' space assets.

Find more news and articles on Google News