Jakarta, INTI - Over the past few years, Elon Musk's Starlink has become the largest player in the satellite internet industry. Starlink now reaches more than 160 countries and regions and has over 10,000 satellites orbiting the Earth.
This dominance is starting to be challenged by China, which is developing a satellite internet system called SpaceSail. This satellite is predicted to become one of Starlink's biggest competitors in the coming years.
SpaceSail, developed since 2023 by Shanghai Spacecom Satellite Technology (SSST), currently has around 200 active satellites in low-Earth orbit (LEO). SSST claims to have enough satellites to run its first commercial service and is exploring collaborations with dozens of countries to provide satellite internet services.
SSST has an aggressive expansion target, aiming to increase its active satellite count to 648 by the end of 2026. In the long term, its constellation is targeted to reach over 15,000 satellites. Of these, more than 10,000 satellites are targeted to orbit by the end of 2030.
Support from the Chinese Government
Unlike most satellite internet companies, this project receives direct support from the Chinese government. Initial funding came from the state-run research institute the Chinese Academy of Sciences and the Shanghai Municipal People’s Government, totaling 6.7 billion yuan.
The SpaceSail project's primary goal is to provide secure and reliable high-speed broadband internet services to users worldwide. However, the project is not solely focused on internet services.
According to Lan Xinzhen, a commentator for the Chinese government-affiliated Beijing Review magazine, SpaceSail is also being developed with national security in mind.
He stated that the satellite constellation project will support Chinese projects abroad, maritime trade, and diplomatic missions without relying on Western companies or infrastructure.
Expanding Service Coverage
In addition to increasing the number of satellites, SpaceSail is also beginning to expand its service coverage. The company is reportedly in negotiations with around 30 countries to provide its satellite internet service.
According to Orbital Gateway Consulting analyst Blaince Curcio, SpaceSail's strategy to expand its reach is to target countries facing political or regulatory barriers to collaborating with Starlink. This strategy has led to SpaceSail obtaining a license to provide commercial services in Brazil after the country's government's relationship with Starlink deteriorated in 2024.
The company is also said to have established a subsidiary in Kazakhstan after negotiations with Starlink over data storage and security failed. Furthermore, SpaceSail has partnered with European aircraft manufacturer Airbus. Through this partnership, SpaceSail's satellite internet service will become one of the Wi-Fi options available onboard aircraft.
Conclusion
SpaceSail, a satellite internet technology developed by Shanghai Spacecom Satellite Technology (SSST), is emerging as a potential competitor to Elon Musk's Starlink. SpaceSail currently has around 200 active satellites in low-Earth orbit and aims to increase that number to 648 by the end of 2026 and over 15,000 in the long term. The project, backed by the Chinese government with initial funding of 6.7 billion yuan, aims not only to provide global broadband internet services but also to support strategic interests such as national security, maritime trade, and diplomacy.
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