In my previous post on Chinese military satellite communications, I detailed the PLA’s long-standing reliance on a limited number of geosynchronous (GEO) satellites. This architecture, while functional, presents a significant vulnerability.
High-value, slow-moving satellites in predictable orbits are prime targets in a potential conflict. Beijing knows this. For years, Chinese strategists have watched the development of Western low-Earth orbit (LEO) constellations with a mixture of envy and alarm. Now, China is fielding its own megaconstellation, “Guowang” (国网).
Guowang is far more than a commercial broadband venture; it is a foundational component of the PLA’s vision for future warfare, designed from the ground up to enable multi-domain precision combat and dismantle the information superiority the United States has long taken for granted.
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14 Guowang/Jishu Shiyan test satellites launched from July 2023 to April 2025 trace two inclined LEO planes around Asia, illustrating China’s early mesh for the planned constellation. I recommend folks check out this Space Review article for analysis of Guowang’s initial deployments (graphic: spaceaware.io).
The Guowang (国网), or “National Satellite Internet,” program was born out of strategic necessity. The project entered the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) coordination queue in September 2020; Russia’s 2022 invasion of Ukraine and Starlink’s battlefield role accelerated work.
PLA observers saw firsthand how a resilient, proliferated LEO network could provide critical battlefield communications even under attack. This underscored the strategic value of a space-based internet network for military operations and accelerated China’s own plans.
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