China’s $13.9 Billion Plan to Beat Starlink
China launched its first batch of satellites for its Qianfan megaconstellation earlier this month. It now has 18 satellites in orbit, but much more will be needed to build out this network of nearly 14,000 satellites.
Qianfan—”thousands sails” in Chinese and also referred to as Spacesail or G60—is a project run by Shanghai Spacecom Satellite Technology (SSST). Last February, the company announced it had raised 6.7 billion yuan ($943 million) in funding, with backing from Shanghai’s municipal government. This makes it a serious project, and one meant to catch up with SpaceX’s Starlink, providing global connectivity, including direct mobile connections, while also providing rural connectivity, supporting e-commerce, and bolstering national security within China.
timestamps---------
00:00 introduction
01:11 why is china doing this?
02:40 chain's future
04:49 how are they building it?
06:24 starlink vs qianfan
07:35 the real power play
08:40 the negatives
09:45 will china catchup?
10:36 who owns the sky?