While still reflecting on the emergence of DeepSeek and its seeming superiority over OpenAI’s ChatGPT and Google’s Gemini, another news from the East is trending. This time it is about China’s Chang Guang Satellite Technology Co. (CGST). This Chinese company has achieved a record-breaking 100 gigabits per second (Gbps) data transmission rate in satellite-to-ground laser communications, positioning China ahead of competitors like Elon Musk’s Starlink in the race for advanced satellite communication technologies.
According to reports, the breakthrough was accomplished during a test involving a truck-mounted ground station and one of the 117 satellites in the Jilin-1 constellation, the world’s largest sub-meter commercial remote sensing satellite network. The achieved speed is ten times faster than CGST’s previous record, enabling the transmission of ten full-length movies from a satellite to Earth in just one second.
Wang Hanghang, CGST’s head of laser communication ground station technology, highlighted the significance of this achievement, noting that while Starlink has developed inter-satellite laser communication, it has not yet implemented laser communication from satellites to the ground. He emphasized that CGST has already commenced large-scale deployment of this technology.
The company plans to equip all satellites in the Jilin-1 constellation with laser communication units to enhance efficiency, aiming to expand the network to 300 satellites by 2027. This development lays the foundation for future applications, including 6G internet, ultra-high-resolution remote sensing, and next-generation satellite positioning technology.
A notable advantage of CGST’s system is its mobility; the ground station, mounted on a truck, can be relocated to avoid adverse weather conditions, ensuring reliable data transmission. This flexibility offers a competitive edge over fixed ground stations.
While institutions like the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and NASA have previously achieved high-speed laser transmissions, CGST’s accomplishment is distinguished by its practical application using a mobile ground station, marking a significant step toward efficient and flexible satellite communication infrastructure.
This achievement not only strengthens China’s position in the global space race but also significantly enhances its satellite infrastructure capabilities, paving the way for advancements in various sectors, including disaster monitoring, national defense, smart cities, environmental protection, and emergency response.
As CGST continues to innovate and expand its satellite network, the global landscape of satellite communications is poised for transformative changes, with implications for both commercial and governmental applications.
