Technology
China launches its own version of Starlink to challenge US space dominance
In an effort to challenge the space dominance of the United States and SpaceX's Starlink, China has launched a constellation of low-orbit satellites with surveillance capabilities.
According to Chinese state media, the first batch of 18 satellites from the “Qianfan” constellation was launched into orbit on August 6 by the state-owned company Shanghai Yuxin Satellite Technology.
The complete project foresees a future network of 14,000 satellites, offering various services, including direct connectivity to devices. Half of these satellites are expected to be launched by the end of next year and the other half by the end of 2027.
I thought China was late on these plans as Starlink is dominating that market. We will see competition in this sector soon with the entry of China.