Chinese rival of Starlink enters Kazakhstan’s market
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Spacesail Kazakhstan Limited, backed by China, joins AIFC with $17M, aiming to rival Starlink by deploying 15,000 satellites globally by 2030 and integrating services in Kazakhstan.
Spacesail Kazakhstan Limited, a subsidiary of the Chinese company Spacesail International Limited, has been officially registered at the Astana International Financial Centre (AIFC) with an initial capital of $17 million. The company is emerging as a potential competitor to Elon Musk’s Starlink, according to media reports.
In 2024, Spacesail launched its first 18 satellites into low-Earth orbit using the Long March 6A rocket from the Taiyuan Launch Complex in Shanxi Province. By 2025, the company aims to deploy 648 satellites to cover all of China, with a longer-term goal of launching around 15,000 satellites globally by 2030. This expansion will enable Spacesail to offer high-speed internet services worldwide.
Spacesail Kazakhstan Limited is working to meet the requirements set by Kazakhstan’s Ministry of Digital Development, Innovation, and Aerospace Industry. The company also plans to establish a facility for integrating its satellite internet with local communication networks. The ministry has expressed its intention to sign a memorandum of cooperation with the company later this year, which will clarify the timeline for launching satellite internet services in Kazakhstan.
The company intends to build a terrestrial network in Kazakhstan in full compliance with local legislation. Pricing for its services is still under discussion and will be revealed after the official launch.
Currently, Kazakhstan is running a pilot project to provide internet access to schools in remote areas via Starlink. The country has also partnered with other global satellite providers, including OneWeb and Amazon’s Kuiper project, to expand internet access.
Additionally, the Ministry of Digital Development has announced plans to replace the domestic communications and broadcasting satellite KazSat-3 in 2029. However, Kazakhstan does not plan to establish its own non-geostationary satellite constellation in the near future, as it continues to collaborate with international providers.
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