Qianfan / Thousand Sails Satellite Constellation
Geography: Asia Pacific · East Asia · China
Shanghai Spacecom Satellite Technology (SSST) is building Qianfan (Thousand Sails), a broadband internet constellation designed to serve markets where Western satellite internet is politically or commercially unwelcome. The plan calls for 15,000+ low-Earth orbit satellites; 90 were in orbit by mid-2025, well behind the 648-satellite target.
A second state-backed constellation, Guowang, adds another layer of redundancy. Combined, China aims to ensure that no country is dependent solely on SpaceX's Starlink for satellite internet — a service that Elon Musk has shown he's willing to control for geopolitical reasons (Ukraine, 2022).
The ITU deadline pressure is real: China must have 10% of Qianfan's satellites in orbit by 2026 to keep its frequency allocations. This creates urgency to accelerate launches, but also quality risks if production is rushed.
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