{"id":165303,"date":"2025-08-25T21:08:01","date_gmt":"2025-08-25T21:08:01","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/teknomers.com\/en\/now-everything-suggests-the-emergence-of-a-megaconstellation-with-a-different-goal\/"},"modified":"2025-08-25T21:08:03","modified_gmt":"2025-08-25T21:08:03","slug":"now-everything-suggests-the-emergence-of-a-megaconstellation-with-a-different-goal","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/teknomers.com\/en\/now-everything-suggests-the-emergence-of-a-megaconstellation-with-a-different-goal\/","title":{"rendered":"Now, everything suggests the emergence of a megaconstellation with a different goal."},"content":{"rendered":"\n

When we think of \u00a0Internet by satellite\u00a0, the first name that usually comes to mind is \u00a0Starlink\u00a0. This is no coincidence. \u00a0The network promoted by Elon Musk\u00a0 has achieved something that, until a few years ago, seemed unattainable for many: \u00a0broadband connectivity to rural areas\u00a0, remote locations, or regions neglected by traditional infrastructure. With a combination of reasonable latency and price points that millions find manageable, Starlink has revolutionized satellite Internet. While it did not invent the concept, it has made it accessible to the general public like never before.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

However, Starlink has also triggered a less visible layer. It’s not just a civil service; it has strategically woven itself into the military architecture of the United States. What began as a commercial service has morphed into a tactical advantage that other countries are acutely aware of\u2014\u00a0China\u00a0 being one of them.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

In recent years, China has accelerated the development of its own satellite constellation in low Earth orbit. Some refer to it as ”\u00a0the Chinese Starlink\u00a0,” a label that seems appealing but oversimplifies the reality. Are we talking about a commercial alternative aimed at providing Internet to rural areas, or something more ambitious with a focus on strategic capabilities? This network is known as \u00a0Guowang\u00a0 (\u56fd\u7f51), and here’s what we know so far.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

Guowang: More Than a Satellite Network<\/h2>\n

\u00a0Guowang\u00a0 is the name designated for the satellite constellation that China is deploying in low Earth orbit. Its formal title is \u4e2d\u56fd\u661f\u7f51, which can be translated to ”\u00a0China Satellite Network\u00a0,” with the more commonly used abbreviation being \u56fd\u7f51, or Guowang. Although the reference has gained traction in international media, the project doesn’t originate from a private company or an open ecosystem but is spearheaded by a state-owned entity: \u00a0China Satellite Network Group\u00a0 (China Satnet).<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

The headquarters were established in the newly planned Xiong’an area, a city designed from the ground up by the central government to serve as a \u00a0new innovation hub\u00a0. The presence of China Satnet there signifies the importance of this initiative. By 2024, the company had completed its transfer, marking its status as the first major state-owned enterprise fully operational in that area. For Beijing, this project integrates both technological and political dimensions.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

While many have labeled Guowang as “the Chinese Starlink,” comparing the two might overlook essential differences. In utilitarian terms, both constellations aim for the same goal: establishing a network of thousands of satellites in low orbit to offer global connectivity services. However, China’s project is tailored differently. While Starlink focuses on consumer-oriented services, Guowang has yet to incorporate public subscription options or commercial offerings.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

\n
\n
\n

\"China
\n China Satnet in Xiong’an<\/span>\n <\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n

The primary question remains: does Guowang aim to provide direct connectivity to end-users, as Starlink does, or does it have a more structural role\u2014offering data coverage to critical infrastructures, government networks, or defense systems? The ambiguity is compounded by the concurrent development of \u00a0Qianfan\u00a0 (\u5343\u5e06), a separate project that appears designed for commercial services and has an international focus. The coexistence of both initiatives \u00a0suggests a dual track\u00a0 approach from China: an overt constellation for civilian use and a more covert one potentially tailored for strategic military applications.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

\n
\n

Today, it is not clear if Guowang intends to offer direct connectivity to users, as Starlink does.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n

The documentation submitted by China to the International Telecommunications Union outlines a \u00a0megaconstellation of 12,992 satellites\u00a0, divided into two layers. One will orbit between 500 and 600 kilometers, while the other will be positioned around 1,145 kilometers. The second layer has been newsworthy since December 2024, and activity has increased, especially in the latter half of 2025. Recent satellite launches have been reminiscent of Starlink’s early operations, with at least four launches occurring between July and August of that year.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

Despite this, \u00a0the total number of operational satellites remains modest\u00a0. Recent estimates suggest there are about 70 operational satellites, a tiny fraction when compared to stated objectives. But this initial deployment appears to be anything but haphazard.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

A point of intrigue surrounding Guowang is its satellites’ capabilities. Unlike Starlink, details about Guowang’s technical specifications have been scant. However, some reports indicate that Guowang satellites may be equipped with transformative technologies.Among the potential advancements are laser communication systems, synthetic aperture radars, and high-capacity data broadcasting systems.<\/a> These capabilities would allow the network to perform varied functions, including monitoring in complex operational environments, whether civil or military.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

\n
\n
\n \"One
\n \"One
\n One of Guowang’s many releases<\/span>\n <\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n

This modular architectural design allows multiple functions to coexist within the network, thus transcending mere Internet provision.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

In military contexts, analysts have started drawing parallels between Guowang and \u00a0Starshield\u00a0, a satellite initiative by SpaceX for the U.S. Department of Defense. Although unconfirmed, this juxtaposition strengthens the notion that Guowang could serve purposes beyond commercial applications, possibly functioning in capacities yet undisclosed.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

While Guowang may seem a distant initiative, it significantly intersects with \u00a0European interests\u00a0. As the European Union advances projects like \u00a0IRIS2\u00a0\u2014intended to enhance connectivity autonomy\u2014the emergence of Guowang, fully under Chinese control, adds a critical variable to the global technological landscape.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

The political implications cannot be overlooked. Unlike Starlink, which operates as a private enterprise with vested commercial interests, Guowang is \u00a0designed, financed, and run by the state apparatus\u00a0. This distinction becomes crucial if agreements for coverage are established with third countries or if the network supports sensitive operations.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

As the \u00a0Guowang initiative\u00a0 evolves, the next few months will be vital in determining its true objectives and operational scope.<\/p>\n

Images | Xataka with Gemini 2.5<\/p>\n

In Xataka | We once thought Apollo astronauts fully left Earth’s atmosphere, but they never completely abandoned the influence of it.<\/p>\n


\n
General News – 2<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

When we think of \u00a0Internet by satellite\u00a0, the first name that usually comes to mind is \u00a0Starlink\u00a0. This is no coincidence. \u00a0The network promoted by Elon Musk\u00a0 has achieved something that, until a few years ago, seemed unattainable for many: \u00a0broadband connectivity to rural areas\u00a0, remote locations, or regions neglected by traditional infrastructure. With a […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":165304,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[36399],"tags":[27120,1135,41111,7808],"class_list":["post-165303","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-technology","tag-emergence","tag-goal","tag-megaconstellation","tag-suggests"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/teknomers.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/165303","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/teknomers.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/teknomers.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/teknomers.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/teknomers.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=165303"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/teknomers.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/165303\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/teknomers.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/165304"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/teknomers.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=165303"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/teknomers.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=165303"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/teknomers.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=165303"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}