Starlink faces stiff competition from China and Jeff Bezos' company
Elon Musk's Starlink satellite internet network is facing stiff competition from Chinese state-owned operator SpaceSail and Jeff Bezos-funded startup Project Kuiper, the Japan Times reports .
In November, Chinese startup SpaceSail signed a deal to enter the Brazilian market and is in talks to launch in more than 30 other countries. In January, the startup launched in Kazakhstan.
During 2025, SpaceSail plans to launch 648 satellites, and by 2030 to increase the total number to 15,000. In 2024, the startup launched 263 into low-Earth orbit, while Starlink already has 7,000 satellites, and by the end of the decade they plan to increase their number to 42,000.
Overall, Musk's company has launched more satellites into space since 2020 than all its competitors combined, but the Chinese government sees this as a threat. Beijing is actively investing in competitors and funding military research into instruments that track satellite constellations.
Brazil is also closely watching the development of Starlink's competitors. The country's government is committed to providing high-speed internet access to citizens in remote regions, but has repeatedly clashed with Musk and even banned X.
SpaceSail launches will soon cover the Qianfang, or Thousand Sails, constellation, marking China's first international push into satellite broadband. China is also working on three other constellations, and plans to launch 43,000 satellites in the coming decades and invest in rockets that can carry multiple satellites.
China's push to occupy a larger portion of low-Earth orbit has raised concerns among Western policymakers that it could lead to increased internet censorship. Researchers at the American Council on Foreign Policy said Washington should strengthen cooperation with countries in the Global South if it wants to "seriously counter China's growing influence over digital dominance."
Meanwhile, the rapid spread of Starlink has attracted the attention of military researchers from China, including from the National University of Defense Technology. The use of Musk’s services, including in Ukraine, has prompted significant government funding for competitors. In 2024, SpaceSail received 6.7 billion yuan ($930 million) in a funding round led by the state investment fund.
On this occasion, we would like to remind you that there were earlier reports that the US government may disable Starlink in Ukraine if the Ukrainian authorities do not agree to sign a mineral agreement.