China is launching a “megaconstellation” of 13,000 satellites to improve internet speed and compete with Elon Musk’s Starlink. The project will cost $943 million.
Shanghai Spacecom Satellite Technology (SSST) plans to launch 13,000 satellites into space to support China’s digital economy. The company raised $943 million to build its “megaconstellation” for data transmission to Earth.
The project, called G60, uses satellites launched into low Earth orbit (about 547 km from the surface), reducing latency in internet connections. The expectation is that 12,000 operational satellites will be launched in 2024.
Elon Musk’s competitor, Starlink, has 6,000 satellites in orbit, serving four million customers worldwide. SpaceX plans to launch up to 42,000 satellites in the long term.
Despite its large presence in the digital market, Starlink is not operational in all countries, such as in China. South Africa, Cameroon, and Brazil have blocked the service. G60 aims to fill these gaps in the market.
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