China Files Massive Satellite Application with ITU for Space-Based Internet Ambitions
China has submitted an unprecedented application to the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) for over 200,000 satellites, targeting a December 2025 launch window. The request, covering radio frequencies and orbital slots, signals Beijing's strategic push to dominate low-Earth orbit infrastructure. While ITU approval remains pending, the scale dwarfs existing satellite constellations.
A newly formed Radio Innovation Institute, backed by seven state-linked entities including China Satellite Network Group, will spearhead the initiative. The consortium blends regulatory, academic, and industrial expertise—a hallmark of China's centralized tech development model. Satellite internet now joins semiconductors and AI as a national priority sector.
