---
title: Qianfan / Thousand Sails Satellite Constellation
type: technology
url: "https://www.envisioning.com/research/apogee/china__qianfan-thousand-sails-satellite-constellation"
hub: apogee
summary: "China's Starlink competitor plans 15,000+ LEO satellites — 90 launched by mid-2025, behind schedule but targeting global coverage by 2027"
---

# Qianfan / Thousand Sails Satellite Constellation

China's Starlink competitor plans 15,000+ LEO satellites — 90 launched by mid-2025, behind schedule but targeting global coverage by 2027
- Technology Readiness Level: 5/9
- Impact: 3/5
- Investment: 3/5
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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Source: Envisioning — Technology Research Institute (https://www.envisioning.com/research/apogee/china__qianfan-thousand-sails-satellite-constellation)