From the 200,000 Satellite Applications, a Global Perspective on China's Space Strategy

Recently, news that China has applied to the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) for over 200,000 satellite constellations has sent shockwaves through the global tech community. Among them, the Wireless Innovation Institute alone applied for nearly 190,000 satellites. This scale far exceeds the total approved number of 15,000 satellites for the U.S. SpaceX Starlink program, marking a new phase of intense competition in global low-earth-orbit satellite development. Against the backdrop of the 'space economy' becoming a new focus of national strategic competition, China's move is not only an inevitable response to global competition but also a strategic breakthrough in laying out future technological infrastructure, while also raising new questions for global space resource governance.

From the perspective of global competitive dynamics, China’s satellite applications are a reasonable response to the 'first-come, first-served' rules for low-orbit resources. According to ITU regulations, space frequency and orbit resources follow the principle of 'prior application, coordinated use,' while low-earth orbits (200–2000 km) can support only about 175,000 satellites, nearly 70% of which are currently occupied by the United States. Through multi-layer orbital deployment in the Starlink program, SpaceX has not only monopolized a large amount of Ku/Ka frequency resources but also established a technological barrier through rapid network replenishment capabilities. In this context, China’s large-scale application for satellite constellations is essentially a strategic move to compete for the high ground in future 6G communications, global IoT, and other core areas, preventing a passive position in the next technological revolution. Just as the successful deployment of the BeiDou system broke GPS monopoly, this satellite application is also a key layout to ensure the country’s digital sovereignty.

From the perspective of industrial development, this initiative will fully activate China's commercial space industry chain. The applicants include multiple institutions such as China Star Net and China Mobile, forming a collaborative framework among government, industry, academia, research, and application sectors. Currently, the growth rate of satellite launches in China has far exceeded the global average, with 188 launches projected for 2024, and breakthroughs in key areas such as satellite chips and high-precision antennas have already been achieved. The deployment demand for over 200,000 satellites will drive upgrades in launch vehicle technology, particularly in the development and application of reusable rockets, while also boosting the development of supporting industries such as signaling stations and ground terminals. This not only promotes cost reduction and efficiency improvement in the aerospace industry but also provides aerospace information support for emerging sectors like artificial intelligence and autonomous driving, creating a synergistic effect in the 'Aerospace+' industrial ecosystem.

In my view, China's satellite applications should not be simply interpreted as a 'numbers race' but should be seen as an opportunity to advance the global space governance system. China should proactively practice the concept of 'responsible space activity,' strictly adhere to ITU deployment deadlines, and prevent wasteful use of 'reserved but unused' resources. At the same time, it should actively promote international regulatory reforms, advocate the establishment of a tiered and categorized orbital resource management mechanism, and utilize technologies such as AI-based orbital prediction and blockchain-based record keeping to improve resource scheduling efficiency. In fact, the global services provided by the Beidou system have already offered a successful model for international cooperation. In the future, China could provide low-cost communication services to developing countries through open and shared satellite constellations, creating a win-win ecosystem amid competition.

Space is a shared wealth of humanity. The essence of the low-orbit satellite race should not be resource monopoly but the co-evolution of technological innovation and regulatory improvement. China's application for over 200,000 satellites demonstrates confidence in its technological capabilities and tests its ability to contribute to global space governance. Only by innovatively overcoming technological bottlenecks and responsibly leading governance reforms can space resources truly serve the development of all humanity, writing a new chapter of mutual benefit and win-win outcomes in the exploration of the stars and the vast seas.