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.
Beijing/Moscow, February 17, 2025 – Chinese President Xi Jinping and Russian President Vladimir Putin held a phone conversation on Monday, according to Chinese state media Xinhua News.
China’s private enterprises are rapidly adopting artificial intelligence (AI) and low-altitude aviation technologies to enhance efficiency, cut costs, and drive innovation. As AI transforms supply chain management and automation, businesses are also investing in aviation advancements.
China’s defence ministry dismissed Australia’s complaints over Chinese naval drills between Australia and New Zealand, calling them "hyped up" and "inconsistent with the facts."
San Francisco, February 17, 2025 – OpenAI has terminated a group of Chinese ChatGPT accounts that were reportedly used to edit and debug code for an AI-powered social media surveillance tool.
Washington, D.C., February 24, 2025 – Canada and Mexico are set to intensify efforts this week to demonstrate to the Trump administration that their enhanced border security measures are effectively curbing fentanyl trafficking and migrant flows.
London, February 24, 2025 – Private retail sales data reviewed by Reuters indicates that sales of unauthorized, flavoured disposable vapes in the United States totaled around $2.4 billion in 2024.
The Australian and New Zealand governments announced new sanctions against Russia on February 24, demonstrating solidarity with Ukraine. Both countries have introduced the most extensive package of sanctions since the beginning of the Russia's invasion of Ukraine.
Madrid/Algiers, February 24, 2025 – Algerian Interior Minister Ibrahim Murad embarked on an official visit to Spain on Monday, marking the first such visit by an Algerian government official since a 2022 diplomatic fallout between the two nations.
American President Donald Trump has announced the appointment of podcaster and former law enforcement officer Daniel Bongino as the deputy director of the FBI.
A recent discovery has revealed that ancient artifacts from the Treasure of Villena were crafted using metal from meteorites, offering new insights into early metalworking techniques in the Iberian Peninsula.
A Delta Air Lines regional jet flipped upside down upon landing at Toronto Pearson Airport on Monday, injuring 18 people. Officials are investigating whether strong winds and snow played a role in the incident.
Berlin, February 21, 2025 – German citizens will head to the polls on Sunday, February 23, for a snap general election after the coalition government collapsed late last year.
Polish startup Clone Robotics has unveiled Protoclone, the world’s first anatomically accurate humanoid robot, featuring artificial muscles, bones, and joints that enable lifelike movements.
A dialogue between US and Russian delegations has begun in Riyadh, the capital of Saudi Arabia. The Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs has confirmed the development in an official statement.
Shanghai, February 24, 2025 – Tesla Inc. is preparing a software update for its Chinese customers that will enable advanced driving-assistance features similar to its full self-driving (FSD) capabilities available in the United States.
Cupertino, CA, February 24, 2025 – Apple Inc. announced on Monday plans to add 20,000 new US jobs and produce AI servers domestically as part of a $500 billion investment over the next four years.
Doha, Qatar, February 23, 2025 – Qatar's government has entered into a five-year partnership with San Francisco-based Scale AI to deploy a range of AI-powered tools aimed at improving public services.
Bengaluru/Beijing, February 24, 2025 – Chinese e-commerce giant Alibaba (9988.HK) announced on Monday plans to invest at least 380 billion yuan ($52.44 billion) in its cloud computing and artificial intelligence (AI) infrastructure over the next three years.
Mountain View, CA, February 17, 2025 – Google has quietly announced the pricing for its new AI video model, Veo 2, revealed last December.
Washington, D.C., February 24, 2025 – Canada and Mexico are set to intensify efforts this week to demonstrate to the Trump administration that their enhanced border security measures are effectively curbing fentanyl trafficking and migrant flows.
London, February 24, 2025 – Private retail sales data reviewed by Reuters indicates that sales of unauthorized, flavoured disposable vapes in the United States totaled around $2.4 billion in 2024.
The Australian and New Zealand governments announced new sanctions against Russia on February 24, demonstrating solidarity with Ukraine. Both countries have introduced the most extensive package of sanctions since the beginning of the Russia's invasion of Ukraine.
Madrid/Algiers, February 24, 2025 – Algerian Interior Minister Ibrahim Murad embarked on an official visit to Spain on Monday, marking the first such visit by an Algerian government official since a 2022 diplomatic fallout between the two nations.
American President Donald Trump has announced the appointment of podcaster and former law enforcement officer Daniel Bongino as the deputy director of the FBI.
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