China deploys eighth set of satellites for a 13,000-unit internet mega-constellation (video footage)
China's Guowang and Qianfan Megaconstellations Advance in Space Race
In the ongoing competition for dominance in low Earth orbit (LEO) satellite internet services, China has made significant strides with its Guowang and Qianfan broadband megaconstellations.
On August 11, 2022, SpaceX launched a batch of satellites for Amazon's Project Kuiper, marking another step towards the American company's planned LEO broadband network. Meanwhile, China's Guowang broadband satellite megaconstellation is actively deploying satellites, aiming to rival other global operators such as Starlink and Amazon Kuiper.
The Guowang constellation, operated by China SatNet (a state-run company established in 2021), is planned to consist of about 13,000 satellites. As of August 2025, 57 satellites have been launched and operational, with plans to boost deployment to around 400 satellites by the end of 2027. The constellation consists of two sub-constellations: approximately 6,080 satellites in low Earth orbit below 500 km altitude for initial broadband coverage, and the remainder in a higher orbit at about 1,145 km to ensure more global reach.
The deployment began in December 2024 with an initial launch of 10 satellites aboard a Long March 5B rocket, placed into roughly 1,100 km orbit. More recently, launches have accelerated significantly with multiple batches launched in close succession across various Chinese launch vehicles. This ramp-up reflects China's commitment to completing the constellation within the International Telecommunication Union’s required seven-year timeline since the first satellite launch—meaning full deployment is expected by around 2031.
The Qianfan megaconstellation, another Chinese broadband megaconstellation, began construction last year. Although details about Qianfan are scarce, it is envisioned to be just as large as the Guowang constellation, with approximately 13,000 satellites. However, the current status and plans for Qianfan would need to be sourced from more specialized or newly released official Chinese space communications announcements.
Meanwhile, SpaceX has launched multiple batches of satellites for various broadband megaconstellations, including Starlink and Project Kuiper. SpaceX launches 24 to 28 satellites on each Starlink mission, and a Long March 5B rocket was launched from Wenchang Space Launch Center on August 13, 2022, carrying a batch of satellites for the Guowang broadband network. As of now, the Starlink broadband megaconstellation currently consists of nearly 8,100 operational satellites.
In summary, China's Guowang and Qianfan megaconstellations are making significant progress in the race to dominate LEO satellite internet services. The Guowang constellation, with its aggressive launch cadence and ambitious scale, is positioned as a global competitor, aiming to rival other operators such as Starlink and Amazon Kuiper. While Qianfan remains less detailed, it is also planned to be a substantial player in the LEO satellite market.
- The advancement in science and technology, as seen in China's Guowang and Qianfan megaconstellations, is significantly impacting the news landscape, particularly in space-and-astronomy, by fueling the competition for dominance in low Earth orbit satellite internet services.
- Both Guowang and Qianfan, being planned to consist of approximately 13,000 satellites each, demonstrate China's commitment to science and technology, aiming to rival established players like Starlink and Amazon Kuiper in the global LEO broadband market.
- The ongoing deployment of China's Guowang and Qianfan megaconstellations, along with the ongoing launches by SpaceX for Starlink and Project Kuiper, highlights the rapid trajectory of technological advancement in space-and-astronomy and its transformative effects on the future of internet connectivity.
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