China Targeting Musk's Starlink With Low-Orbit Satellite Drive

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SpaceX has set the global benchmark in satellite broadband, rapidly building out the world's largest low-Earth orbit (LEO) constellation. The company expects to complete the deployment of roughly 42,000 satellites by mid-2027. As of Monday (September 1), it had launched 6,640 Starlink satellites, with 5,378 still operating in orbit after accounting for natural attrition.

SpaceX's mastery of reusable rockets is driving this rapid expansion. In October 2024, the firm successfully used a pair of mechanical“chopsticks” on its launch tower to catch a returning Super Heavy booster, a milestone that dramatically cut launch costs. The company now routinely reuses Falcon 9 and Falcon Heavy vehicles, allowing it to launch dozens of Starlink batches each year with unmatched efficiency.

Yet low-Earth orbit can hold only about 60,000 to 100,000 satellites, making capacity a scarce resource. The International Telecommunication Union (ITU) assigns orbital slots and frequency bands on a first-come, first-served basis, intensifying competition among nations.

China's most ambitious project to date is the Qianfan, also known as Spacesail. It is operated by Shanghai Spacecom Satellite Technology (SSST) and manufactured by Shanghai Weixiao Satellite Engineering Center, a Chinese Academy of Sciences subsidiary. Qianfan targets regional coverage with 648 satellites by the end of 2025, global coverage with 1,296 in 2027 and a complete build-out of about 15,000 by 2030.

Roughly 90 satellites have already been launched, and the operator is in talks with more than 30 countries to secure international partnerships.

The second main initiative is the GuoWang, or“National Networks” project, led by Hebei-based state-owned China Satellite Network Group. GuoWang aims to launch 13,000 satellites to LEO, with a near-term target of 400 in orbit by 2027. As of mid-2025, the program had reportedly 72 operational satellites in orbit.

A third contender is Shanghai Lanjian Hongqing Technology, in which private rocket maker LandSpace holds a 48% stake. Its Honghu-3 plan envisions phased launches, starting with 1,296 satellites for regional coverage by 2027 before scaling to more than 15,000 by 2030. The company has not yet launched satellites into orbit.

Whether these projects can overcome the absence of reusable rockets remains the defining question as China seeks to close the gap with Starlink.

Some observers said Starlink's aggressive deployment has already secured it a dominant position in the low-Earth orbit satellite market. They said Starlink, which offers broadband services across over 100 countries, is expanding so quickly that it has become the world's default provider.

By contrast, Chinese firms have only secured partnerships in Brazil in November 2024 and Malaysia in February 2025. Beyond these limited agreements, their international footprint remains negligible.

According to Zhongjin Qixin International Consulting, the US holds a decisive first-mover advantage, with Starlink already operating thousands of satellites while Chinese systems are still in early phases.

The consultancy firm said China faces the burden of high launch costs. It said, without mature rideshare capabilities or reliable rocket reusability, deploying thousands of satellites risks becoming prohibitively expensive.

Struggling with reusability

Slow progress on reusable rockets remains the biggest obstacle for China's rivalry with Starlink. Plans for a recoverable version of the Long March 8 have been delayed for what state media called“certain reasons.”