China races to roll out low-orbit satellite internet to rival Musk’s Starlink

China is pushing to accelerate the rollout of commercial low-orbit satellite internet services as it strives to develop home-grown rivals to SpaceX’s Starlink network.

In a guideline released on Wednesday, the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology said it would encourage operators of low-orbit satellite constellations to launch trials of commercial services “at an appropriate time”.

The document also encourages telecom operators to leverage low-orbit satellite internet to expand high-speed data services beyond voice and text messaging, promoting the integrated development of land and space-based communications infrastructure.

China has been stepping up efforts to create its own versions of Elon Musk’s Starlink, with two state-led projects currently developing their own constellations of low-orbit satellites.

The document also calls on satellite communications companies to explore new application scenarios and fresh ways to harness their existing infrastructure.

“Satellite internet is rapidly expanding from specialised use to everyday devices like phones, cars and drones, potentially creating new growth opportunities,” the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology said in a statement.

The guideline called for “tailored measures for different types of enterprises” to ensure “a phased and orderly opening of the market in satellite communications”, it added.

Beijing designated satellite communications as a key emerging sector in 2020 and has offered generous funding and policy support in an effort to accelerate the industry’s development.

With satellites offering connectivity for enterprises deploying internet-of-things devices in remote locations or across oceans, satellite IoT connections are projected to grow at an average annual rate of 23.8 per cent up to 2030, according to a report by research firm Omdia published in July.