Better mobile signals soon, from space

A group of 18 communication satellites, the first batch of the planned Qianfan network, were lifted by a Long March 6A rocket from the Taiyuan Satellite Launch Center in Shanxi province and placed into their preset orbit on Aug 6.

As its name shows, Qianfan constellation is a satellite-based communications network that provides communication services to users directly from the satellite instead of the current mode of communicating via base stations. Compared with base stations that are often located in populated regions instead of deserts, forests or the ocean, and whose signals get hindered by mountains, the satellite-based network sends electromagnetic waves to these less populated regions more effectively so its users need not worry about their cellphones getting weak signals.

Moreover, communication companies in many countries provide global services but when users travel far they have to depend on local service providers. With the satellite-based communication network, communication companies can provide services to their users in any corner of the world.

That's why satellite-based communication network has long been a hot research sector. As early as 1987, Motorola had developed its Iridium satellite constellation, planning to arrange 77 satellites around the globe for communication. It failed because of the unbearably high cost but the situation is totally different now, as new technologies have lowered the cost and complexity of it, with it now being possible to launch 18 satellites in one rocket.

Besides Elon Musk's famous Starlink plan of launching over 40,000 satellites in space, the Qianfan constellation is reportedly aiming to launch 108 satellites within the year and increasing the total number to over 10,000 by the end of 2030.

The space is unlimited, but low-Earth Orbit positions and their corresponding electromagnetic wave frequency channels are limited, and only those with higher technologies can gain an advantage in these. China can exert its potentials in propelling the astronautic sector to flourish, as well as call for regulating the space resource usage so that different plans compete healthily, not rival, each other.