China proposes building two new satellite constellations, each with about 100,000 satellites
China has filed papers with the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) — the international licensing agency comparable to the U.S.’s FCC — to build two new satellite constellations, each with about 100,000 satellites that would be linked as one gigantic constellation.
The filings, submitted to the ITU in late December 2025, are designated CTC-1 (CHN2025-79441) and CTC-2 (CHN2025-79398), each covering 96,714 satellites in 3,660 orbital planes, according to documents posted in the Union’s “as-received” database.
CTC-1 includes both advance publication information (API) and a more detailed coordination request, reflecting progression through different stages of the ITU regulatory process for a single notional Non-Geostationary Orbit (NGSO) system, while CTC-2 currently remains at the API-only stage. Both reference a “new operating agency” as a placeholder for their operating agencies.
Together, the pair represent one of the largest constellation filings ever made, highlighting the growing competition over orbital and spectrum resources.
Both filings appear to be very preliminary, and in fact appear to be an attempt by China to grab control of as much orbital territory and satellite spectrum as possible, to block others from access. Neither has been approved, and won’t be without a detailed review by the ITU.
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The print edition can be purchased at Amazon or from any other book seller. If you want an autographed copy the price is $60 for the hardback and $45 for the paperback, plus $8 shipping for each. Go here for purchasing details. The ebook is available everywhere for $5.99 (before discount) at amazon, or direct from my ebook publisher, ebookit. If you buy it from ebookit you don't support the big tech companies and the author gets a bigger cut much sooner.
The audiobook is also available at all these vendors, and is also free with a 30-day trial membership to Audible.
"Not simply about one mission, [Genesis] is also the history of America's quest for the moon... Zimmerman has done a masterful job of tying disparate events together into a solid account of one of America's greatest human triumphs."--San Antonio Express-News
China has filed papers with the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) — the international licensing agency comparable to the U.S.’s FCC — to build two new satellite constellations, each with about 100,000 satellites that would be linked as one gigantic constellation.
The filings, submitted to the ITU in late December 2025, are designated CTC-1 (CHN2025-79441) and CTC-2 (CHN2025-79398), each covering 96,714 satellites in 3,660 orbital planes, according to documents posted in the Union’s “as-received” database.
CTC-1 includes both advance publication information (API) and a more detailed coordination request, reflecting progression through different stages of the ITU regulatory process for a single notional Non-Geostationary Orbit (NGSO) system, while CTC-2 currently remains at the API-only stage. Both reference a “new operating agency” as a placeholder for their operating agencies.
Together, the pair represent one of the largest constellation filings ever made, highlighting the growing competition over orbital and spectrum resources.
Both filings appear to be very preliminary, and in fact appear to be an attempt by China to grab control of as much orbital territory and satellite spectrum as possible, to block others from access. Neither has been approved, and won’t be without a detailed review by the ITU.
On Christmas Eve 1968 three Americans became the first humans to visit another world. What they did to celebrate was unexpected and profound, and will be remembered throughout all human history. Genesis: the Story of Apollo 8, Robert Zimmerman's classic history of humanity's first journey to another world, tells that story, and it is now available as both an ebook and an audiobook, both with a foreword by Valerie Anders and a new introduction by Robert Zimmerman.
The print edition can be purchased at Amazon or from any other book seller. If you want an autographed copy the price is $60 for the hardback and $45 for the paperback, plus $8 shipping for each. Go here for purchasing details. The ebook is available everywhere for $5.99 (before discount) at amazon, or direct from my ebook publisher, ebookit. If you buy it from ebookit you don't support the big tech companies and the author gets a bigger cut much sooner.
The audiobook is also available at all these vendors, and is also free with a 30-day trial membership to Audible.
"Not simply about one mission, [Genesis] is also the history of America's quest for the moon... Zimmerman has done a masterful job of tying disparate events together into a solid account of one of America's greatest human triumphs."--San Antonio Express-News
The “Celestials” as the Han Chinese consider themselves believe they should rule the Earth. This is another attempt to control territory that should not be theirs like they are trying to control the whole of the South China Sea from Vietnam to the Philippines.
What conceivable purpose is there for two constellations that size?
David Eastman: I think I stated that purpose in my post: “Both filings appear to be very preliminary, and in fact appear to be an attempt by China to grab control of as much orbital territory and satellite spectrum as possible, to block others from access.”
All part of the “Long View.”
Fill space—offer free service—bankrupt Starlink—control Earth’s data.
It’s what I would do.
Dr. Doom approves.
In Africa, poor people are tired of rich white Western Greens. China won’t kill poachers (they love rhino horns too.)
So since Green tyrants won’t help development, China has Africa over the rail.
All due to folks wearing a white hat.
BillB observed: “The “Celestials” as the Han Chinese consider themselves believe they should rule the Earth. ”
For millennia, the Chinese confined their control to the Middle Kingdom, without a seeming care for anywhere else. Indeed, they built a Wall to keep waiguoren out. Europeans and other Asians have long experience expanding, and resisting others doing the same. It was the West that came to China, not the other way around. It looks like a contest between the imperturbable Chinese, and the dynamic West. I’ve already placed my bets.
Don’t forget that any packets sent over a CCP network will be copied and stored on CCP servers for use by the Party and its organs.
Blair K. Ivey observed: “For millennia, the Chinese confined their control to the Middle Kingdom, without a seeming care for anywhere else.”
Their definition of the territory rightfully belonging to the Middle Kingdom expanded time and again for many centuries, suggesting they had a care for adjacent lands repeatedly. These days they seem to have an interest in Taiwan (controlled by China for only 200 years of China’s several millennia history) and a large part of the Pacific Ocean. Maybe it will be Kazakhstan next, or Siberia.
The Chinese Belt and Road initiative has failed Africa.
The projects have not panned out, the construction is actually falling apart., China is not finishing the other projects Now they are being kicked out of China and the loans they gave out to pay for them are not being paid back.
China is a failing state.
Africa not China.
That took less time than I thought.
In Birmingham, a company I used to work at had a contract with the city.
They didn’t get paid either.
I wish I could leave.
To Craken’s observations:
The Chinese appear to be expansionists of convenience; others are expansionists of purpose. “We want more” v “Well, if it’s nearby”.