Bengaluru/Beijing/Brasília, February 24, 2025 – Competition in low-Earth orbit is heating up as Chinese state-backed satellite internet providers and other global rivals ramp up efforts to challenge Elon Musk’s Starlink.
New developments indicate that players such as Shanghai-based SpaceSail are aggressively expanding, while Jeff Bezos’s Project Kuiper and Canada’s Telesat are also drawing international interest, particularly in markets like Brazil.
Expanding international presence
SpaceSail, which signed an agreement to enter Brazil last November and has since begun operations in Kazakhstan, is among the most ambitious new entrants. Controlled by the Shanghai municipal government, the company plans to deploy 648 low-Earth orbit (LEO) satellites this year and as many as 15,000 by 2030. In contrast, Starlink currently operates around 7,000 satellites, with an ultimate target of 42,000 by the end of the decade. Meanwhile, Brazil - a market eager for high-speed internet in remote areas—has welcomed these developments despite previous tensions with Musk over commercial and political issues.
State-backed ambitions and strategic messaging
A newspaper affiliated with China’s telecom regulator recently hailed SpaceSail as “capable of transcending national boundaries, penetrating sovereignty and unconditionally covering the whole world,” emphasizing its strategic importance to national ambitions. China is not relying solely on SpaceSail; Beijing is developing three additional satellite constellations and plans to launch up to 43,000 LEO satellites over the coming decades. These initiatives are seen as integral to China’s broader push to secure digital dominance and enhance its geopolitical influence, including through the space component of the Belt and Road Initiative.
Technological and military developments
Starlink’s rapid deployment and its use in conflict zones like Ukraine have caught the attention of military researchers. Chinese institutions, including those affiliated with the People’s Liberation Army (PLA), are investing heavily in satellite technology. Patent filings related to LEO satellite innovations have surged - from 162 in 2019 to 2,449 in 2023 - highlighting an intensified push to develop cost-efficient networks and low-latency communication systems. Some Chinese research efforts are specifically targeting Starlink, with PLA-linked patent applications noting the U.S. system’s role in reconnaissance and military communications, while also posing potential risks to network security.
In addition, researchers from two PLA-affiliated institutes have designed a system and algorithm to track megaconstellations like Starlink’s. Inspired by the hunting techniques of humpback whales, their approach underscores the growing military interest in monitoring and potentially countering rival satellite networks as space becomes an increasingly contested domain.
Global implications and future outlook
The accelerated expansion of Chinese satellite internet capabilities has raised concerns among Western policymakers, who worry that Beijing’s rapid occupancy of LEO could extend its internet censorship regime globally. Analysts from the American Foreign Policy Council have urged Washington to bolster cooperation with Global South nations to effectively contest China’s expanding digital influence.
As the race for orbital slots intensifies, experts like Chaitanya Giri of the Observer Research Foundation warn that “the endgame is to occupy as many orbital slots as possible.” With global infrastructure and military applications at stake, the emerging competition signals a major shift in the satellite internet landscape, one that will likely shape geopolitical dynamics in the years ahead.
While Starlink remains a dominant force in LEO, the rapid developments led by Chinese and other international competitors suggest that the satellite internet arena is entering a period of significant transformation, with profound implications for global communications, security, and digital sovereignty.
China has successfully launched a new satellite, Tianping-3A 02, into space from the Taiyuan Satellite Launch Center in Shanxi province.
Taiwan has reported a sharp increase in Chinese military activity as Beijing concluded two days of war games around the island, intensifying tensions across the Taiwan Strait.
China is prepared to collaborate with Russia to advance multi-polarization and promote greater democracy in international relations, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi stated after discussions with Russian officials in Moscow.
Kazakhstan’s foreign minister met with the EU’s special representative for Central Asia to discuss investment, trade, and regional cooperation. Both sides emphasized digitalization, climate policy, and infrastructure projects, reaffirming their commitment to deeper economic ties.
Kyrgyzstan’s Ministry of Digital Development met with a delegation from Karamay, China, to discuss collaboration in cloud computing, data processing, and digital governance. Both sides shared experiences and invited each other to major IT events in 2025.
Iran and Afghanistan are working to strengthen diplomatic and economic ties as the Taliban seeks greater engagement with the United States. The discussions focus on trade, security, and regional stability, highlighting shifting alliances in the region amid ongoing geopolitical tensions.
Asian stock markets experienced a significant decline on Thursday following the announcement by US President Donald Trump of new reciprocal tariffs on several US trade partners. The tariffs, which range from 10% to 50%, were announced by Trump on April 2, a day he referred to as “Liberation Day.”
The inaugural Samarkand International Climate Forum will kick off on 4th April at the Silk Road Samarkand Congress Center in Uzbekistan. The high-profile forum will be held under the theme "Central Asia Facing Global Climate Challenges: Consolidation for Shared Prosperity."
TikTok’s fate in the United States is once again hanging in the balance, as a looming deadline threatens to force a sale—or trigger a nationwide ban—amid a flurry of last-minute bids and high-stakes political maneuvering.
A roundtable discussion on Azerbaijan’s demining initiatives was held at the Hudson Institute in Washington, organized by the Azerbaijani Embassy. Representatives from ANAMA and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs provided insights into ongoing operations and challenges related to landmine clearance.
Aid groups in Myanmar’s worst-hit areas urgently need shelter, food, and water after a devastating 7.7 magnitude earthquake killed over 2,700 people. Rescue efforts face challenges due to ongoing civil war, damaged infrastructure, and restricted aid access, with the toll expected to rise.
French far-right leader Marine Le Pen was banned from running for public office for five years after being convicted of embezzlement, ruling her out of the 2027 presidential race. She received a four-year prison sentence, with two years suspended, and a €100,000 fine. Le Pen plans to appeal.
Apple marked its 49th anniversary by reaching a market capitalization of $3.3 trillion. Despite recent tech stock volatility, Apple's shares surged 28% in 2024.
The Armenian armed forces attempted three reconnaissance drone flights over Azerbaijan Army positions near Gerenzur, but all were successfully intercepted. Meanwhile, Armenian units repeatedly fired on Azerbaijani positions from multiple regions, escalating tensions in the area.
Neuralink plans to implant its first Blindsight vision chip in a human by the end of the year, enabling vision for those born blind, according to Elon Musk. The device could eventually surpass natural vision, allowing users to see in infrared, ultraviolet, and radar ranges.
Researchers at Rice University have made a groundbreaking discovery in the field of strange metals—materials that defy conventional understanding of electricity and magnetism
Airbus UK wins a £150 million-contract to engineer landing platform that will safely deliver the first European rover on Mars. First British-built rover will explore the red planet in 2030 for signs of present and past life on Mars.
The model aims to enhance Alibaba’s presence in the generative AI sector and is available as open-source.
OpenAI has asked the US government to permit AI companies to use copyrighted material for training to maintain America's leadership in AI development, as part of a proposal aligned with President Trump's upcoming "AI Action Plan."
Iran and Afghanistan are working to strengthen diplomatic and economic ties as the Taliban seeks greater engagement with the United States. The discussions focus on trade, security, and regional stability, highlighting shifting alliances in the region amid ongoing geopolitical tensions.
Asian stock markets experienced a significant decline on Thursday following the announcement by US President Donald Trump of new reciprocal tariffs on several US trade partners. The tariffs, which range from 10% to 50%, were announced by Trump on April 2, a day he referred to as “Liberation Day.”
The inaugural Samarkand International Climate Forum will kick off on 4th April at the Silk Road Samarkand Congress Center in Uzbekistan. The high-profile forum will be held under the theme "Central Asia Facing Global Climate Challenges: Consolidation for Shared Prosperity."
TikTok’s fate in the United States is once again hanging in the balance, as a looming deadline threatens to force a sale—or trigger a nationwide ban—amid a flurry of last-minute bids and high-stakes political maneuvering.
A roundtable discussion on Azerbaijan’s demining initiatives was held at the Hudson Institute in Washington, organized by the Azerbaijani Embassy. Representatives from ANAMA and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs provided insights into ongoing operations and challenges related to landmine clearance.
You can download the AnewZ application from Play Store and the App Store.
What is your opinion on this topic?
Leave the first comment