China News Network2025-09-24 17:42
On September 24, commercial space enterprises announced a significant milestone in Shanghai, as the Geely Constellation construction has successfully completed its first phase of network deployment, injecting strong momentum into the development of China’s commercial space sector. The Geely Constellation is a globally covering low Earth orbit IoT communication constellation independently designed, developed, constructed, and operated by the commercial space enterprise Time-Space Path in Shanghai.
At 15:56 on September 24, the sixth orbital plane of the Geely Constellation was successfully launched with “one arrow and 12 stars” in the waters near Rizhao, Shandong. With this, the first phase of the Geely Constellation network has been completed, making it the first low Earth orbit satellite constellation in China to achieve network deployment and scalable application capabilities, enabling real-time communication coverage across the globe, except for the polar regions.
As of now, including the experimental satellites deployed in previous orbital planes, Time-Space Path has increased the number of satellites in orbit to 64, with all satellites achieving 100% reliability in orbit and network reliability. This achievement marks the first time a private Chinese enterprise has independently completed the construction of a globally covering satellite communication network, providing a new space infrastructure option for many countries and regions.
During the constellation construction process, Time-Space Path actively expanded its global cooperation landscape, establishing deep cooperative relationships with over 20 countries worldwide, with business coverage extending across the Middle East, Southeast Asia, Central Asia, Africa, and Latin America. From the vast deserts of Oman to the dense rainforests of Malaysia, from the expansive plains of Argentina to the remote villages of Africa, Chinese private aerospace is effectively supporting local digital development, adding a new dimension to global connectivity.
In its global layout, Time-Space Path emphasizes building ecosystems and sharing results with local partners. In 2024, the company collaborated with Azyan Telecom in Oman to complete the first overseas commercial testing, achieving a communication success rate of 99.15% and network availability exceeding 99.97%, becoming a benchmark case for low Earth orbit satellite IoT services in the Middle East. In Malaysia, Time-Space Path established a joint venture with local company ALTEL to jointly promote the application of satellite communication in fields such as communication, transportation, and energy. In South America, the company partnered with Argentine enterprise Orbith to assist in upgrading local digital infrastructure, providing more inclusive and extensive connectivity services for the regional market, and jointly promoting the exploration of integrated applications of high and low orbit satellites. Additionally, in markets like Saudi Arabia and Morocco, the company has reached cooperation agreements with mainstream operators such as ATSS and Soremar to jointly develop satellite IoT solutions tailored to local needs. These collaborations not only represent commercial win-win scenarios but also involve deep outputs of technical standards, service systems, and cooperation models, enhancing the participation and voice of Chinese private aerospace enterprises in the international commercial space sector.
The completion of the Geely Constellation brings significant value to many developing countries and regions worldwide. These areas often have complex terrains and weak infrastructure, making it difficult for traditional communication networks to achieve comprehensive coverage, thus satellite IoT becomes key to bridging the “digital divide”.
Specifically, in the Middle East, constellation services can be applied to marine-related operational scenarios, significantly enhancing operational safety and management efficiency by transmitting operational data in real-time via satellite and receiving weather alerts; in Central Asia, the satellite network can provide critical support for the energy sector, enabling remote monitoring and fault warning of oil and gas pipelines; in Africa, the constellation’s capabilities can be utilized for agricultural water monitoring and cross-border logistics tracking. In emergency rescue and public safety, the role of low Earth orbit satellite constellations is irreplaceable; when natural disasters disrupt ground communications, satellite networks can quickly restore contact between disaster areas and the outside world, supporting rescue coordination and disaster assessment.
Currently, among global commercial satellite IoT constellations, the Geely Constellation ranks second in the number of satellites in orbit, alongside Iridium’s second generation. The Geely Constellation system can support 20 million users globally, including 5 million high-frequency users and 15 million medium and low-frequency users, fully capable of providing scalable commercial services worldwide. As of now, Time-Space Path has signed cooperation agreements with operators in over 20 overseas countries, with application directions covering marine operations, smart transportation, energy management, emergency communications, and more.
From Chinese launch sites to applications around the world, the completion of the Geely Constellation global network is not only a leap in China’s commercial space technology but also a reflection of Chinese private enterprises’ commitment to global development through open cooperation and shared benefits. It showcases China’s capabilities and responsibilities, bringing more inclusive and reliable communication services to many countries and regions worldwide. In the future, as the constellation application ecosystem continues to enrich and international cooperation deepens, this “space bridge” built by Chinese private enterprises will further connect the world, assisting more regions in achieving digital green transformation and pushing the global digital process to new heights. (End)
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