This post is also available in:
עברית (Hebrew)
China has achieved a significant milestone in the development of satellite-to-ground laser communication, surpassing previous records and positioning itself ahead of competitors like Elon Musk’s Starlink. Recently, Chang Guang Satellite Technology set a new benchmark by successfully achieving a 100 gigabit per second (Gbps) data transmission rate—a speed ten times faster than their previous achievement. This breakthrough opens the door to new capabilities for space-based technologies, marking a major leap in global satellite communications.
The achievement comes from Chang Guang Satellite Technology’s Jilin-1 constellation. According to the South China Morning Post, data was transmitted from a mobile, truck-based ground station to one of the 117 satellites orbiting Earth. This transmission rate significantly enhances the ability to transfer vast amounts of data from space back to Earth, something that traditional communication methods often struggle to manage due to bandwidth constraints.
Unlike Starlink, which has demonstrated laser inter-satellite communication but has not yet deployed satellite-to-ground communication, China’s Chang Guang Satellite Technology has already begun large-scale deployment of this technology. According to Wang Hanghang, the company’s head of laser communication ground station technology, they plan to equip all satellites in the Jilin-1 constellation with laser communication units, aiming to network 300 satellites by 2027.
One of the key innovations that helped achieve this breakthrough is the development of a compact, backpack-sized laser communication terminal. This device, which was added to the payload of the Jilin-1 02A02 satellite in June 2023, allows for efficient data transmission between satellites and Earth. Moreover, the truck-mounted ground station can be moved to different locations, ensuring optimal transmission by avoiding weather disruptions and turbulence.
This achievement builds on earlier progress, including a successful 10Gbps transmission in October 2023. According to SCMP, the 100Gbps speed is equivalent to transmitting ten full-length movies in just one second, illustrating the immense potential for enhanced satellite infrastructure, including applications in 6G communication, navigation, and remote sensing.
