China recently filed plans with the ITU to launch more than 200,000 low-Earth orbit (LEO) satellites 😲 This massive move is driven by two mega-constellations—CTC-1 and CTC-2—each seeking about 96,700 satellites, making them the largest filings ever.
The filings came from the Institute of Radio Spectrum Utilization and Technological Innovation, a new national research institute registered in Hebei Province in December 2025. Other Chinese players also joined, with proposals ranging from single-digit fleets to several thousand satellites.
Why the LEO race? Satellites at 200–2,000 km altitude offer low latency and high bandwidth, perfect for instant video calls, gaming, and connecting remote regions. But with crowded orbits and limited radio frequencies, early filings are key to securing orbital slots and spectrum rights under ITU rules 🚀
China’s space sector is already active:
- Shanghai Spacesail Technologies aims for ~15,000 satellites by 2030
- China Satellite Network Group plans a constellation of ~13,000 satellites
By August 2024, China had filed over 51,300 satellites in total.
Meanwhile, on January 9, 2026, the U.S. Federal Communications Commission approved SpaceX’s plan to add 7,500 second-generation (Gen2) Starlink satellites, boosting its authorized network to ~15,000, with a long-term goal of 42,000.
Under ITU rules, operators must activate a set number of satellites within deadlines or risk losing their spectrum and orbital rights. With national institutes and private companies racing to stake their claim, the next few years could redefine global connectivity and space tech 🌍✨
Reference(s):
cgtn.com
