China Aims to Compete with Starlink as it Begins Deployment of Thousand Sails Constellation

China has embarked on an ambitious project to establish its own satellite internet network, aiming to compete with SpaceX’s Starlink. On Tuesday, the country successfully launched the first batch of satellites for its "Thousand Sails" constellation, which will eventually consist of over 15,000 low-Earth orbit (LEO) satellites designed to provide global internet coverage.

The initial 18 satellites were launched aboard a Long March 6A rocket from the Taiyuan launch center in Shanxi Province, a mission that was declared a complete success by the Chinese Academy of Sciences. This marks the beginning of China's plan to deploy 648 satellites by 2025 as part of the first phase of the constellation’s development.

The Thousand Sails project reflects China’s growing space ambitions and its desire to challenge U.S. dominance in satellite technology, particularly as the competition between Beijing and Washington intensifies. The move is also a significant step in the global race for satellite internet supremacy, where Starlink and OneWeb currently lead the market.

Source: Arjun Kharpal / CNBC