A Chinese state-owned enterprise has launched the first batch of satellites for a mega constellation designed to compete with SpaceX’s nearly global Starlink Internet network, Reuters reports.

This launch is an important step in achieving Beijing’s strategic goal of creating its own version of Starlink, a commercial satellite Internet service that currently operates through some 5,500 satellites in space and serves consumers, businesses, and government agencies.

The launch, carried out by Shanghai Spacecom Satellite Technology (SSST), took place from the Taiyuan Satellite Launch Center in the northern province of Shanxi, the China Securities Journal reports.

This initiative is part of SSST’s Thousand Sails Constellation plan, also known as the G60 Starlink Plan, which was launched last year. The plan envisages the deployment of more than 15,000 satellites in Low Earth Orbit (LEO).

LEO satellites typically operate at an altitude of 300 km to 2000 km from the Earth’s surface, offering cost advantages and more efficient data transmission than satellites in higher orbits.

Starlink, which is run by billionaire Elon Musk, currently serves tens of thousands of users and plans to expand its grouping to tens of thousands more satellites.

Chinese researchers from the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) have been studying the use of Starlink during the Russian-Ukrainian war over the past two years and have repeatedly warned of the risks it poses to China in potential military conflicts with the United States.

In January, the PLA’s mouthpiece published an article describing the Starlink deployment as “a serious threat to the security of space assets of various countries.”

SSST Thousand Sails Constellation is one of three Chinese initiatives aimed at matching SpaceX’s capabilities. SSST plans to launch 108 satellites this year, 648 by the end of 2025, achieve global network coverage by 2027, and deploy 15,000 satellites by 2030.