A SpaceSaila private Chinese company based in Shanghai, is a new player in the satellite internet market, traditionally dominated by Elon Musk’s Starlink. The company revealed this week that it signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with the Brazilian Ministry of Communications, and that it plans to begin operations in the country in 2026.
Newly arriving on the market, the company has ambitious plans and intends to transform the sector with the use of low-orbit satellites to offer high-speed, low-latency internet. See below everything that is known so far about the company, which is supported by the Chinese government.
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New on the market
SpaceSail was launched in 2023 and currently has 36 satellites in orbit. Its first launch took place in August 2024, with 18 satellites placed in orbit by the Long March-6A rocket, developed by China. In October, another 18 satellites were launched, consolidating the beginning of the company’s constellation.
Ambitious plan
SpaceSail is still far behind Starlink, which already has more than 6 thousand satellites in orbit. The Chinese company’s plan, however, is ambitious: its goal is to launch 15,000 satellites by 2030.
In 2024, the company plans to launch a total of 108 satellites, and has an expansion plan for the coming years divided into three stages:
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- Until 2025: Launch of 648 satellites for regional coverage;
- Until 2027: Launch of over 648 satellites to achieve global coverage;
- Until 2030: Completion of the constellation with 15 thousand satellites to offer mobile multiservice integration and direct connection.
Technology
The low orbit (LEO) satellites used by SpaceSail orbit just 549 km from the Earth’s surface, a significantly smaller distance than conventional satellites. This proximity reduces data transmission time, ensuring faster and more reliable internet. The technology is similar to that offered by Starlink and the French E-Space.
Spacesail satellites are designed using digitalization and modular production methods, which the Chinese government says should significantly increase the efficiency of satellite development.
The first batch of 18 commercial network satellites, each weighing 300 kg, uses a flat stackable satellite platform independently developed by a Shanghai aerospace company.
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The launch vehicle, the Long March-6A, is China’s new generation of medium-sized hybrid rockets.
Chinese government support
The Chinese government has a central role in the development of SpaceSail, considering the satellite sector as strategic for the country’s economic and technological growth. Satellite internet was included in the 14th Five-Year Plan (2021-2025) as part of the new information infrastructure. Furthermore, the National Development and Reform Commission has set the commercial aerospace industry as a priority in December 2023.
Local governments, such as those in Beijing, Shanghai and Chongqing, are also boosting the satellite industry through incentives and regional plans. The objective is to integrate satellite technology with terrestrial communication systems, promoting advances in the telecommunications sector.
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