China Successfully Launches the 23rd Group of Low-Earth-Orbit Satellite Internet Satellites
我国成功发射卫星互联网低轨23组卫星
On August 4, 2026, China used a Long March 8A carrier rocket at the Hainan Commercial Space Launch Site to successfully launch the 23rd group of low-Earth-orbit satellite internet satellites. The satellites successfully entered their predetermined orbit, and the launch mission was a complete success.
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The mechanism
The 23rd deployment, backed by batch radio-station licences and frequency-use permits, moves China’s satellite-internet programme further from planning towards operating scale. European satellite operators and connectivity-equipment suppliers face a larger prospective rival for capacity, terminals and international service contracts. For EU institutions, the coordinated licensing and launch sequence is evidence of a state-supported deployment pipeline, though the report documents no immediate change in European market access.
The stakes
If launch cadence converts into commercial service, China could develop a parallel connectivity stack that strengthens its position in space-based communications and related technical ecosystems. The implication is materially weaker if the constellation remains experimental or serves only domestic users.
How it reaches Europe
- Chinese frequency permits
- recurring LEO launches
- larger Chinese network capacity
- competition for connectivity contracts
- European satellite operators