China has filed network information plans with the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) for 203,000 satellites across 14 constellations, marking the country's largest-ever coordinated international filing for satellite frequency and orbital resources. Experts say this move will energize the entire space industry chain, from manufacturing to launching, propelling China's aerospace sector into a new phase of industrial scale-up. The applications involve multiple operators and research institutes, though actual deployment faces significant challenges.
China submitted applications to the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) between December 25 and 31, 2025, for frequency and orbital resources covering 203,000 satellites across 14 constellations in medium- and low-Earth orbits. This represents the nation's largest-ever coordinated filing, extending beyond traditional operators to include research institutes, commercial space firms, and telecom giants like China Mobile and China Telecom.
The filings were led by the Institute of Radio Spectrum Utilization and Technological Innovation, a new national research body in Hebei province. Key applicants include Hebei-based China Satellite Network Group, planning 12,992 satellites, and Shanghai's Yuanxin Satellite Technology, aiming for over 15,000.
Yang Feng, founder and CEO of Spacety in Hunan province, noted that the scale reflects long-term national strategy rather than immediate capabilities. "China's satellite internet development is characterized by nationwide coordination, elevating it from a standalone commercial venture to a government new infrastructure effort," he said.
Under ITU rules, such submissions are the first step for global operators, requiring technical reviews and actual launches to secure rights—typically two to seven years before deployment. However, Yang cautioned: "Leading in filings does not mean surpassing in execution; turning plans into operational constellations faces major challenges in systems engineering, manufacturing, and launch capacity."
As of May 2025, low-Earth orbit hosted about 10,824 operational satellites, with 18% utilization. The US, via SpaceX's Starlink, dominated with 75.94% of global active spacecraft, while China held 9.43%. Associate professor Zhang Zhilong at Beijing University of Posts and Telecommunications estimated China needs five to 10 years to match Starlink's launch volume, urging exploration of ecosystems like direct-to-handset standards, terminal costs, and industry coordination.
The news spurred volatility in commercial space stocks: surges hitting 10% limits on Monday gave way to over 10% drops on Tuesday. This filing signals China's push to narrow the gap in the global satellite race, though realization depends on overcoming substantial hurdles.