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3mo ago

Global Satellite Internet Race Heats Up as China and Amazon Challenge Starlink

China's SpaceSail and Amazon's Project Kuiper aim to rival Elon Musk's Starlink with ambitious satellite deployment plans by 2030.

People watch from Canaveral National Seashore as a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket launches from pad 39A at the Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral, Florida. The rocket is carrying 49 Starlink internet satellites for a broadband network.
A 3D-printed miniature model of Elon Musk, a Chinese flag and the Starlink logo are seen in this illustration taken, February 20, 2025. REUTERS/Dado Ruvic/Illustration
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Overview

  • China's SpaceSail plans to deploy 648 low-Earth orbit (LEO) satellites in 2025, with a target of 15,000 satellites by 2030, challenging Starlink's current dominance.
  • Amazon's Project Kuiper, backed by a $16 billion investment, aims to launch its first production satellites in 2025 to provide global broadband services.
  • Starlink, with approximately 7,000 active satellites, currently operates in over 100 countries and has set a goal of 42,000 satellites by the end of the decade.
  • Concerns over data security and geopolitical influence are rising as China's satellite networks expand, echoing past controversies surrounding Huawei and TikTok.
  • The satellite internet sector is described as a 'wild west,' with major players racing to claim orbital slots before stricter regulations are implemented.