Chinese competitors of Starlink are ready to launch their own satellites into space

China is preparing to launch its first telecommunications satellites in low Earth orbit, all to provide broadband internet access. The first 30 vehicles under the Guowang program will be launched at the end of 2023, with a total of 13,000 satellites planned.

This project is being implemented by the China Academy of Space Technology and the Academy of Microsatellite Innovation, and in the future, private companies in China will be able to join the development of satellites. The first batch of telecommunication satellites will be launched into low Earth orbit using a Long March 5B launch vehicle from the coastal Wenchang Cosmodrome.

As you know, Chinese developers intend to build a satellite Internet system capable of competing with Western counterparts, such as SpaceX’s Starlink.

According to researchers, in recent years, China has significantly increased the production of miniature satellites. Currently, several companies in the country can produce hundreds of spacecraft annually. It should be noted that according to scientists at the Beijing Institute of Telecommunications, Starlink poses a serious threat to China’s national security. Last year, the military appealed to the Chinese government with a proposal to develop an effective technology to combat Elon Musk’s satellites.