China to launch 26,000 satellites, vying with U.S. for space power

Nation hopes to rival StarLink and cover globe with high-speed internet

20240110  China rocket launch

A rocket lifts off for China's GalaxySpace (Beijing) Technology in March 2022. (Photo from GalaxySpace's SNS)

SHUNSUKE TABETA, Nikkei staff writer

BEJING -- China will start building this year its own version of StarLink, a satellite internet constellation using low Earth orbit, with plans of launching some 26,000 satellites to cover the entire world led by state-run companies.

Now that the military use of satellite-based communications systems for warfare in such places as Ukraine and Gaza is increasing, China will set up its own satellite network to compete with the U.S. as a "space power."

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