China has submitted plans to the International Telecommunications Union for nearly 200,000 satellites, potentially the largest constellation ever proposed. The filing, made on December 29, covers two constellations backed by the government. Experts suggest it may reserve space rather than indicate immediate deployment.
On December 29, the Institute of Radio Spectrum Utilisation and Technological Innovation in China filed proposals with the International Telecommunications Union (ITU), a United Nations body responsible for allocating space spectrum. The applications outline two constellations, CTC-1 and CTC-2, each comprising 96,714 satellites distributed across 3,660 orbits.
For context, approximately 14,300 satellites currently orbit Earth, with around 9,400 belonging to SpaceX's Starlink network, which provides internet services from a limited number of orbits. SpaceX has previously filed for 42,000 satellites with the ITU. Victoria Samson of the Secure World Foundation described the Chinese move as potentially a 'land grab' for orbital slots. 'It is possible they’re just trying to create some space for later on,' she said. 'It is also possible that maybe they’re planning on something that big.'
Under ITU regulations, filers must launch at least one satellite within seven years of the initial submission, followed by up to another seven years to complete the constellation. This priority prevents interference from later applicants in the same orbits. Satellite consultant Tim Farrar noted the advantages: 'If you file ahead of someone else, if you meet your deadlines, those other operators should not interfere with you.' He added that the broad scope across many orbits offers flexibility, with 'very little penalty to doing it this way.'
Deploying 200,000 satellites would be a monumental challenge. China set a national record with 92 rocket launches in 2025, but fulfilling the plans would require over 500 satellites per week, necessitating hundreds or thousands of annual launches.
This filing echoes a 2021 Rwandan proposal for 327,000 satellites, which has not disrupted operations like Starlink's. It underscores intensifying competition in satellite internet, where SpaceX leads. Amazon's Project Leo (formerly Kuiper) has launched about 200 of its planned 3,236 satellites, while China's Qianfan and Guowang projects have deployed a few hundred from thousands envisioned. As Samson reflected, 'Fifteen years ago, the idea of having 1000 satellites in one constellation was crazy. Now here we are with 9000-plus with Starlink.'
