In early 2026, Chinese entities submitted record-breaking regulatory filings to the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) for satellite constellations totaling nearly 200,000 spacecraft, signalling an aggressive push to secure orbital slots and radio spectrum in low-Earth orbit (LEO) amid rapidly intensifying global competition.
The filings, confirmed through ITU records and industry tracking groups, represent the largest single wave of satellite coordination requests ever submitted by one country. Analysts describe the move as a strategic attempt to lock in future access to scarce orbital and frequency resources before they are dominated by existing and emerging megaconstellations.
At the centre of the applications are two massive proposed networks, designated CTC-1 and CTC-2. Each constellation consists of 96,714 satellites, bringing the combined total to 193,428 spacecraft. The filings were submitted by the Institute of Radio Spectrum Utilization and Technological Innovation (RSDTII), a newly established, state-linked body headquartered in the Xiongan New Area, a national development zone promoted by Beijing as a hub for next-generation technology and governance.
In addition to the headline constellations, several other Chinese entities filed supplementary applications. China Mobile outlined plans for roughly 2,664 satellites to support broadband and data services. Shanghai Yuanxin Satellite Technology, which operates the Qianfan or “Spacesail” project, added further filings linked to its commercial ambitions, while China Satellite Network Group, the state-owned operator behind the Guowang project, continues to coordinate its own spectrum and orbital resources.
Industry experts say the filings reflect a calculated “use-it-or-lose-it” strategy. Under ITU regulations, operators that file first gain priority rights to specific orbital planes and frequency bands, provided they meet deployment milestones. Typically, at least one satellite must be launched within seven years, with phased deployment required to retain long-term rights. Failure to meet these conditions can result in loss of spectrum claims, freeing them for rival operators.
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The scale of China’s filings has raised eyebrows across the global space sector. If fully realised, the proposed constellations would dwarf existing systems such as SpaceX’s Starlink, which has approval for around 42,000 satellites, and Amazon’s Project Kuiper, planned at just over 3,000. European and Indian operators are also racing to secure spectrum, intensifying concerns about congestion, interference and long-term sustainability in LEO.
Chinese officials have not publicly committed to deploying all 200,000 satellites, and many analysts believe the filings are more about long-term strategic positioning than immediate construction. Even with China’s rapidly expanding space capabilities, the technical challenge would be enormous. The country conducted a record 92 orbital launches in 2025, but deploying a constellation of this size would require a launch cadence far beyond current global capacity, potentially involving hundreds of launches per year for over a decade.
As a result, experts expect a phased approach. Initial pilot constellations would likely focus on regional broadband coverage, government and military communications, data relay, navigation augmentation and Internet-of-Things services. Broader global coverage would follow only if early systems prove commercially and technically viable. Estimates suggest a 10- to 15-year roadmap, with gradual scaling rather than a single monolithic deployment.
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China already has tangible momentum in this space. The Guowang project, targeting around 13,000 satellites, began more frequent launches in late 2025, while the Qianfan/Spacesail network, aiming for more than 15,000 satellites, has also accelerated deployment. These programmes are widely seen as testing grounds for technologies, manufacturing processes and regulatory coordination that could underpin much larger systems in the future.
Beyond commercial considerations, the filings carry clear geopolitical implications. Control over LEO infrastructure is increasingly viewed as a matter of national strategic interest, influencing everything from global internet access and data sovereignty to military communications and positioning services. By moving early and at scale, China is positioning itself as a long-term peer competitor to US-led space networks.
At the same time, the unprecedented volume of proposed satellites has reignited debates over space traffic management, orbital debris and the sustainability of near-Earth space. International regulators and space agencies are under growing pressure to update coordination rules and collision-avoidance frameworks as filings continue to outpace actual deployment.
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