Technology
Trouble for Starlink and Elon Musk? Here's how China is challenging his project
Elon Musk’s Starlink is now one of the biggest players in satellite internet. China is set to challenge this dominance, and has launched its own satellites.
Starlink, the satellite network developed by Elon Musk’s SpaceX to provide internet to remote and underserved locations, has more than 6,700 satellites in orbit. This network currently serves around five million customers across more than 100 countries.
SpaceX aims to eventually expand to as many as 42,000 satellites to make up its mega-constellation.
China is setting its sights on challenging this service, and intends to set up its own expansive satellite network.
READ ALSO: Russia’s $1bn Arctic titan ‘Yakutia’, a 33,000-ton nuclear icebreaker
Trouble for Starlink and Elon Musk? Here’s how China is challenging his project
China’s target is almost as ambitious in scope as that of SpaceX. It aims to operate some 38,000 satellites across three low Earth orbit or LEO internet programs. These projects are called Qianfan, Guo Wang, and Honghu-3.
Early this month, the country launched its third batch of LEO internet satellites for the constellation known as Qianfan or “Thousand Sails.”
The project aims to challenge SpaceX’s existing Starlink network and will be made up of 15,000 satellites.
READ ALSO: Unexplained drone sightings across the Northeast: real-time map
The Guo Wang program plans to deploy 13,000 satellites, while the third Chinese project, Honghu-3, aims to provide global satellite internet from space with the use of 10,000 satellites.
A Chinese satellite internet service might not be the top option for countries like the United States and its allies, and thus may not pose a threat to Starlink in these areas.
However, it could attract those that are not yet serviced by the SpaceX service, such as Russia, Afghanistan, Syria, and parts of Africa.
Get your game on! Whether you’re into NFL touchdowns, NBA buzzer-beaters, world-class soccer goals, or MLB home runs, our app has it all.
Dive into live coverage, expert insights, breaking news, exclusive videos, and more – plus, stay updated on the latest in current affairs and entertainment. Download now for all-access coverage, right at your fingertips – anytime, anywhere.