Shanghai launches satellite internet plan, targeting 3,000 satellites by 2030

Shanghai unveiled an action plan on Tuesday aimed at building the city into a global satellite internet innovation hub, with targets including over 3,000 satellites in orbit and core industry output exceeding 80 billion yuan ($11.9 billion) by 2030.

The plan was announced at the 2026 satellite internet industry ecosystem conference in Songjiang district, where government officials, industry leaders and researchers gathered to map out the trajectory of the rapidly expanding space-based connectivity sector.

"Satellite internet is a vital pillar of future information infrastructure and a core track for cultivating new quality productive forces," Wang Huajie, Party secretary of Songjiang district, said.

Wang said that Songjiang has already attracted more than 100 upstream and downstream enterprises. The district's satellite internet industry generated 23 billion yuan in output value in 2025, with growth accelerating by 26.2 percent year-on-year in the first eight months of 2026.

Zhao Houlin, honorary president of the China Institute of Communications, underscored the technology's global significance.

"Satellite internet is critical support for building integrated space-ground information networks and promoting global digital inclusion," Zhao stated.

He called for deeper integration of satellite-terrestrial networks and greater Chinese participation in international telecommunications governance and standard-setting to enhance the industry's global voice.

Shanghai satellite internet industry innovation and development action plan (2027-2030) was unveiled by the Shanghai Municipal Commission of Economy and Informatization during the event.

The blueprint outlines four strategic priorities, namely strengthening technological capabilities, consolidating infrastructure, optimizing industrial clusters, and expanding applications.

Under the plan, Shanghai aims to convert more than 100 research achievements into commercial applications, cultivate over 100 quality market entities, and create more than 100 benchmark demonstration projects.

Meanwhile, the Shanghai Yangtze River Delta satellite internet industry supply-demand platform began trial operations. The platform has already aggregated over 2,000 supply and demand entries and facilitated connections for more than 100 enterprises.

Li Changhao, secretary-general of the Shanghai Yangtze River Delta emerging high-end industry promotion center, characterized regional development as proceeding in full swing, noting that "its maturity may come much faster than we expect".

The conference also marked the launch of the satellite internet industry fund, jointly established by municipal and district-level investment platforms in partnership with private capital.