Published on 4/25/2026
In light of the intense competition between China and the United States on Earth, in a struggle over sovereignty and control of resources, another unheard-of battle is taking place between them in space, as China officially launched what has become known as the “Satellite City,” an integrated ecosystem that combines massive manufacturing and the accelerated launch of the “Thousand Sails” network, known technically as G60 Starlink.
This project aims not only to provide the Internet, but also to seize “orbital sovereignty” from the American company SpaceX, which was the only leader in low Earth orbit, at a time when space has become the primary field of geopolitical conflict.
According to data from the Chinese Hainan Commercial Launch Center, on April 10, China successfully launched the seventh batch of “Thousand Sail” satellites, within a precise timetable that it adhered to.
The data shows that the first goal that was set for the project was to launch 648 satellites by the end of 2025, 1,296 satellites in the first phase of building the constellation, and 15,000 satellites by 2030, which represents about a third of what SpaceX seeks in its project.
However, according to technical reports, the numbers alone do not tell the true story, but rather the speed. While Starlink took years to mature its operations, China is moving at an alarming pace towards achieving true regional coverage in just a few months, according to reports.
“City of Moons”… the factory that never sleeps
The strength of the “One Thousand Sails” project lies in its unique manufacturing capacity, as the Chinese newspaper “Beijing Daily” reports that China is preparing to complete the “Satellite City” in the second half of this year, which is an economic zone dedicated exclusively to the commercial space industry, where flat panels are produced at a pace comparable to the production of smartphones.
According to documents from the American magazine “IEEE Spectrum”, Spacesail has begun producing its first operational satellites by the end of 2023 through semi-automatic production lines, and this momentum strengthens the “G60” industrial corridor that connects 9 major cities, providing a sustainable financial cover that exceeds immediate profit fluctuations.
Beyond the Internet… Technology as a strategic weapon
Beijing’s ambitions go beyond just providing connectivity, as it focuses on three strategic axes documented in technical reports:
- Advanced frequency bands: The satellites operate in the Ku, Q and V bands to ensure huge data capacities and less interference.
- Space CloudStatements from an official at the Chinese company Future Aerospace revealed that this year represents the year of integrating computing power with artificial intelligence directly into satellites, which reduces response time and gives the network independence from ground stations.
- 6G integrationBeijing Daily reports confirm that the priority this year is to integrate space, air and sea into a single network, allowing ordinary phones to communicate with satellites directly without special receivers.
International penetration…the confusing “Airbus” partnership
In an important strategic shift, the European airline Airbus signed a memorandum of understanding with SpaceCell in December 2025 to integrate the Chinese communications system into in-flight entertainment solutions (HBCplus).
The American Aviation Week Foundation confirms that this partnership is the most prominent internationally for the project, while the Taiwanese company APEX Aviation says that Airbus is seeking to diversify its orbital options away from the American monopoly.
The hidden price: environmental challenges
On the other hand, experts believe that huge environmental bills arise behind this success. The US Space Command documented that the launch of the “Long March 6A” rocket in August 2024 caused the disintegration of the upper stage and the generation of more than 300 pieces of debris that threaten the safety of the orbit, which is known as “Kessler Syndrome,” which threatens the safety of all other satellites.
In addition to the danger of collision, the challenge of “light pollution” stands out, as reports and international astronomical societies indicate that the “Thousand Sail” satellites are characterized by a high degree of brightness that leaves devastating visual effects on research astronomical images, which hinders the ability of ground-based observatories to study deep space and changes the features of the night sky that humanity is accustomed to seeing with the naked eye.
The “Digital Silk Road” runs through space
By the middle of this year, the “Thousand Sails” project will become the main pillar of the “Digital Silk Road,” as Chinese Xinhua Agency reports confirm, citing statements by Chinese officials, that these constellations will provide reliable digital infrastructure for countries participating in the Belt and Road Initiative, which will help bridge the global digital divide.
Observers also say that the Chinese “satellite city” is not just a local technology project, but rather a Chinese declaration of the end of the unipolar era in the space Internet, and with the size of China’s commercial space industry reaching 2.5 trillion yuan this year, the confrontation between “A Thousand Sails” and “Starlink” will determine who holds the keys to the global Internet in the next decade.
