Jakarta, INTI - China has successfully tested its domestically developed satellite internet network, connecting the Arctic, Antarctic, and Qinghai–Xizang Plateau for the first time during a scientific expedition aboard the icebreaker Jidi.
China’s 16th Arctic Ocean Expedition team announced the achievement on Monday, October 19, 2026, following the completion of pre-operational satellite internet tests along the Arctic sailing route.
According to the expedition team, the trial marked the first verification of network communications connecting three of Earth’s extreme regions, including the Qinghai–Xizang Plateau, often referred to as the Third Pole.
The system is designed to provide high-speed, low-latency communications even under challenging environmental conditions.
Icebreaker Jidi Tests Video Communications Across Polar Regions
Organized by China’s Ministry of Natural Resources, the expedition began on July 3, 2026. The icebreaker Jidi was one of four research vessels participating in the mission.
The name Jidi means “polar region” in Chinese.
During the tests, the expedition team established communications between the Jidi in the Arctic, Qinling Station in Antarctica, a test station along the Lhasa River in the Xizang Autonomous Region, and the ministry’s office in Qingdao, eastern China.
The team reported that voice and video communications between these locations were clear and stable.
The trials also evaluated network reliability under challenging conditions, including extremely low temperatures, sandstorms, and ice fog.
The results demonstrated the potential of China’s satellite internet technology to support communications in remote regions where conventional telecommunications infrastructure is difficult to deploy.
Satellite Internet Supports Medical Consultations in Polar Regions
Beyond connecting research locations, the Jidi used satellite internet to support healthcare services during the expedition.
The team described the initiative as the first use of China’s domestically developed satellite internet for medical support in polar regions.
Through the network, crew members could conduct high-definition video consultations with hospitals and medical specialists in Qingdao.
This connection enabled healthcare professionals onshore to assess the condition of expedition members without waiting for the vessel to return to port.
The use of remote medical consultations represented one of the practical applications demonstrated during the communications trials.
Jidi Transmits More Than 100 Gigabytes of Data
Zhang Meng, an expedition member and field tester, said the satellite internet network had been used to transmit various types of research data.
During the voyage, the Jidi sent and received more than 300 files, with total data exceeding 100 gigabytes.
The network also supported more than 40 video consultation sessions.
“The communications test has helped overcome the information isolation that challenges polar expeditions and verified communications support throughout the voyage using China’s satellite internet,” Zhang said.
According to Zhang, the results demonstrated the network’s ability to maintain communications during scientific research activities in polar environments.
Zhigan Buoy Offers an Alternative for Marine Data Transmission
The expedition also tested Zhigan, a domestically developed Chinese marine buoy designed to enable autonomous data collection and transmission by Chinese survey equipment.
According to the expedition team, the test marked a milestone for China’s domestic survey systems by demonstrating integrated control over the entire process, from data collection to transmission.
The device’s transmission speed and quality reportedly met practical operational requirements during testing.
The results suggest that Zhigan could provide an alternative to international satellite services traditionally used for real-time ocean observation data transmission.
The successful tests of satellite internet and the Zhigan buoy form part of China’s broader efforts to develop technologies supporting scientific research and communications in remote regions.
Conclusion
China’s satellite internet trial aboard the icebreaker Jidi demonstrated the potential to connect remote polar and high-altitude regions through high-speed, low-latency communications. Supporting research data transfers, video consultations, and remote medical services, the technology could strengthen connectivity for scientific expeditions operating in some of the world’s most challenging environments.
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