HONG KONG -- China's largest civilian satellite operator is bracing for a serious blow from the arrival of 5G mobile networks, which are expected to eat into demand for lucrative broadcasting services.
Even though widespread deployment of the next-generation networks may be years away, Beijing-based China Satellite Communications Corp. is already stepping up efforts to explore maritime services as an alternative revenue source. Its latest plan involves connecting fishing vessels with onshore buyers through satellite-enabled live-streaming, a move aimed at cultivating markets that ground-based 5G networks cannot access.