Chinese Satellite Companies Expand Global Services with Advanced Networks and Constellations
by Simon Mansfield
Sydney, Australia (SPX) Jan 30, 2025
Chinese space companies are rapidly expanding their global satellite services, offering capabilities in communications, navigation, and remote sensing. This expansion is coupled with a swift increase in satellite constellation deployments aimed at enhancing service reach and efficiency.
At the start of 2025, China Great Wall Industry Corporation (CGWIC), a leading player in commercial launch services and satellite in-orbit deliveries, successfully completed the delivery of the intelligent remote sensing satellite IRSS-1 to an Omani company. Launched on November 11, 2024, the satellite features one-meter resolution imagery and weighs 95 kilograms. With a planned operational lifespan of five years, the IRSS-1 will be employed for land and forest surveys, urban planning, and disaster monitoring.
CGWIC highlighted that this delivery will significantly enhance Oman’s capabilities in remote sensing, marking a critical step forward in the country’s satellite application efforts.
Wide-Ranging Remote Sensing Coverage
Chang Guang Satellite Technology Co., Ltd. continues to advance its global reach with the Jilin-1 satellite constellation. Since its initial launch in 2015, the constellation has grown to include more than 117 satellites, providing frequent global coverage. Users accessing Chang Guang’s platform can view satellite images captured by the constellation, which is capable of observing any point on Earth up to 40 times per day.
“The Jilin-1 constellation offers six global coverage cycles annually and 24 updates within China per year,” said Huang Jian, the head of Chang Guang’s overseas data operations. This frequency of data provision supports the company’s expansion in overseas markets, assisting clients in land surveying, urban planning, and agriculture, as well as responding to disasters like fires and floods. These efforts align with requests from global organizations such as the United Nations.
Looking ahead, Chang Guang is planning the launch of a new constellation, comprising 200 satellites. This new formation will offer a spatial resolution of 20 centimeters, allowing for daily global coverage and the ability to revisit any location on Earth within approximately three minutes.
Expanding Communication Networks
The commercialization of China’s space sector began in 2014 when the State Council introduced guidelines encouraging private investment in national space infrastructure. One notable company, Geespace, founded in 2018 as a subsidiary of the Chinese automaker Geely, operates a constellation of 30 satellites in three orbital planes. Geespace’s Geesatcom constellation now delivers 24-hour coverage across 90 percent of the world, providing satellite communication services for a range of users worldwide.
By June 2024, Geespace had completed its first commercial deployment in the Middle East. The company plans to partner with global operators to roll out worldwide commercial services. “Through Geesatcom and its ground system, we provide medium- and low-speed satellite communications, satellite-based high-precision positioning services, and remote sensing AI solutions,” said Geespace founder Wan Yang.
The company has ambitious plans for growth, expecting to extend its services into Southeast Asia and Africa in the coming years.
New Constellation Targets Remote Regions
Another Chinese company, Spacesail, is set to deploy a low Earth orbit mega-constellation aimed at providing satellite communication services to Brazil by 2026. The constellation will support broadband internet access in the country’s remote and underserved regions. With its multi-layer and multi-orbit design, Spacesail will be one of the major players in expanding internet connectivity in areas traditionally out of reach of conventional communication networks.
“By 2026, Brazil will benefit from full-frequency satellite communications and reliable broadband internet coverage across its vast and remote regions,” said company spokesperson Wang Cheng. Additionally, the emerging market for connecting smartphones directly to satellites is expected to grow significantly. “From the North Pole to the South Pole, nearly all locations on Earth – whether oceans, deserts, or remote mountainous areas – will be able to maintain stable connectivity via direct satellite links,” he added.
A Rapidly Expanding Sector
As of mid-2024, China had over 546 commercial space enterprises registered and operational, according to Wang Cheng, Secretary General of the China Space Foundation. This flourishing sector has been strongly supported by national policies, including a medium- and long-term development plan for civil space infrastructure from 2015 to 2025. China’s efforts continue with a future roadmap for civil space infrastructure development from 2026 to 2035, overseen by Li Guoping, chief engineer at the China National Space Administration (CNSA).
Related Links
China Great Wall Industry Corporation
The Chinese Space Program – News, Policy and Technology
China News from SinoDaily.com
