China approves first commercial trial for satellite IoT

The Ministry of Industry and Information Technology said it has approved Beijing Guodian Gaoke Technology Co to launch a two-year commercial pilot program for satellite-based internet of things services, the first such commercial trial in the country.

The move marks a significant step in the country's efforts to advance commercial space applications and foster new quality productive forces.

During the trial period, the company — commonly known as Guodian Gaoke — is permitted to operate satellite IoT services in accordance with the law. Leveraging its "Tianqi Constellation", the service will provide wide-coverage, low-power, and highly reliable IoT connectivity — enabling round-the-clock, intelligent data collection, and remote control in sectors such as marine fisheries, energy and water resources, transportation, and logistics.

On its official website, Guodian Gaoke said that it is building and operating China's first low-Earth orbit IoT satellite constellation, the "Tianqi Constellation", which consists of 38 satellites.

The MIIT said in a statement on Wednesday that, as the commercialization of China's satellite communications industry accelerates, satellite IoT is set to become a vital complement to the nation's broadband satellite internet services. The commercial pilot is expected to help achieve economies of scale in the satellite IoT sector and foster a regulatory, collaborative, and mutually beneficial industrial ecosystem.

The initiative is also seen as a major boost to the private sector. "Organizing commercial trials for satellite IoT will help stimulate the vitality of the private economy, support the development of commercial space, cultivate new quality productive forces, and build a modern industrial system," the MIIT added.

Looking ahead, the ministry said it will further optimize market access for satellite communications, strengthen supply chain supervision and security measures, and promote the high-quality development of China's satellite communications industry.