A global competition centered around low-Earth-orbit satellite internet is accelerating. From Europe to Asia-Pacific, governments and commercial space companies are trying to break SpaceX's dominance in satellite communications and promote the construction of local satellite constellations, which concerns not only commercial interests but also national security and strategic autonomy.
Last Friday, the U.S. Federal Communications Commission (FCC) approved SpaceX to deploy an additional 7,500 second-generation Starlink satellites, bringing the total number of second-generation satellites authorized for operation to 15,000. The company currently operates about 9,400 satellites, completing 154 launches in 2025, accounting for more than 80% of the total U.S. launches.
Faced with SpaceX's overwhelming advantage, countries and regions such as Europe, Canada, Japan, and India have accelerated their commercial space strategies.
The European Space Agency approved a record 22 billion euros in funding for a three-year period in November, with about 900 million euros allocated to support five startups that have yet to achieve orbital launches. The Canadian government has pledged to invest nearly 183 million Canadian dollars over three years to improve the ability to launch space missions from its own territory. The Japanese government included 150 billion yen in its 2025 fiscal year supplementary budget to support companies in building a "Japanese version of Starlink."
United States: SpaceX Approved to Expand by 7,500 Satellites, Technological Upgrades Aim for Gigabit Speeds
The total number of rocket launches in the United States has risen annually from about 40 in 2020 to around 180 in 2025, with a steep growth curve, of which 80% come from SpaceX.
The company currently operates about 9,400 satellites and completed 154 launches in 2025, making it the absolute mainstay of U.S. rocket launches. Currently, SpaceX has become the world's largest satellite operator, controlling nearly two-thirds of active satellites.
This expansion, the FCC set strict deployment timelines for SpaceX: it must launch and operate 50% of the second-generation satellites authorized by December 2028, and the remaining satellites must be launched by December 2031. For first-generation Starlink satellites, SpaceX must complete the deployment of 7,500 satellites by November 2027.
The FCC's approval this time not only involves expanding the number of satellites but also includes key technological upgrades. SpaceX has been allowed to operate in five frequency bands and is exempted from previous restrictions on satellite signal coverage overlap, clearing regulatory obstacles for increasing network capacity.
New satellites will provide direct satellite-to-cellular network services for regions outside the U.S. and enhance the U.S. domestic network coverage. These technological upgrades are expected to achieve a maximum internet speed of one gigabit per second, supporting next-generation mobile communication services.
Europe Rises to the Challenge, Startups Receive Government Support
After being left behind by SpaceX's low-cost, reusable rockets for many years, the European space industry showed new determination to catch up in 2026.
In the record funding approved by the European Space Agency last November, about 900 million euros will be used for the "European Launcher Challenge" program, supporting five startups: Isar Aerospace and Rocket Factory Augsburg from Germany, PLD Space from Spain, MaiaSpace from France, and Orbex from the UK.
Isar Aerospace, based in Munich's "Space Valley," is one of the most advanced challengers in Europe. This company, founded in 2018 by three students from the Technical University of Munich, has raised over 500 million euros and has more than 400 employees. The company is building a 40,000 square meter factory with an annual production capacity of more than 30 rockets. Daniel Metzler, the 33-year-old CEO of Isar, said, "Europe is indeed behind, but the only way to close the gap is to build. The real risk is not failure, but inertia."
The European effort to catch up has also been driven by geopolitical factors. As the U.S. and Musk become increasingly hostile toward the EU, and the Ukraine war highlights the battlefield value of networks like Starlink, European policymakers have realized the importance of cultivating a more resilient space sector. Germany plans to invest 35 billion euros by 2030 to enhance space defense capabilities, and the German military is reportedly hoping to have its own satellite constellation.
However, Europe still faces significant challenges. In 2025, Europe completed only seven orbital launches, while SpaceX's Falcon 9 rocket launches once every two days. The European Ariane 6 rocket aims to launch 10 times per year by 2027, double that of its predecessor, but has not yet adopted reusable technology.
Canada: Invests Nearly 183 Million CAD in Three Years
Canadian startup Kepler Communications recently launched 10 low-Earth-orbit satellites via SpaceX's Falcon 9 rocket, marking an important milestone in its development of an optical relay network. According to Bloomberg, each of these satellites weighs about 300 kilograms and will be used for Earth observation, defense, and communication services.
Kepler, which has been in operation for ten years, has raised $200 million in funding. CEO Mina Mitry said in an interview that these satellites will function as "orbital data centers," capable of storing terabytes of information and running AI workloads in space. The satellites use laser transmission to upgrade space communication from the "dial-up speed" of old technologies to high-speed levels.
Kepler's development has benefited from increased government spending on defense and intelligence. The Canadian government allocated 8.18 billion CAD in its latest budget to enhance defense capabilities over five years and committed to investing nearly 183 million CAD over three years to improve the ability to launch space missions from its own territory. Last December, the Canadian Space Agency signed a contract with Kepler to conduct concept research on the next generation of Earth observation satellite systems. In October 2024, the European Space Agency selected the company to help develop its optical laser network.
Mitry said the company will seek new capital to continue expanding its business and plans to launch another 10 satellites in 2028.
Japan Advances Its Own Starlink Plan, Invests 150 Billion Yen
According to the Sankei Shimbun, the Japanese government is building a "Japanese version of Starlink" system from a security perspective. The government has determined support measures to promote the use of low-orbit satellite constellations for domestically controlled communication services.
The Japanese government listed 150 billion yen (about 9.6 billion USD) in its 2025 fiscal year supplementary budget to provide subsidies to companies that launch satellites and offer communication services. The public recruitment for subsidy applications is expected to start by the end of March this year.
This move stems from Japan's concern over relying on overseas satellite communications. After the Noto Peninsula earthquake in January 2024, the Japanese communications company KDDI provided free Starlink receivers to shelters, which increased public awareness of Starlink as a means of communication during disasters. However, Japanese government officials expressed strong concerns, believing that "if this continues, the market will be fully occupied by foreign companies."
A low-orbit satellite constellation refers to a communication network operating at altitudes between 200 and 2,000 kilometers, consisting of tens to thousands of small satellites working together, capable of supporting voice calls and data communication for devices such as mobile phones.
India Faces Setbacks, Main Rocket Suffers Consecutive Failures
India's ambition to expand its share in the global commercial space industry is facing severe technical challenges, with recent launch accidents raising concerns about the reliability of its rockets.
According to China Central Television, on January 12, the Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) executed a critical launch mission that failed. The Indian Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV) experienced significant orbital deviation after liftoff, failing to place the military Earth observation satellite designated EOS-N1 and other 15 payloads into their intended orbits. This incident marked the second consecutive failure for this rocket model, which was once considered India's "mainstay in space," with the previous failure occurring in May 2025, resulting in the loss of the EOS-09 satellite.
This series of setbacks not only delayed India's plans to enhance its space-based surveillance capabilities but also cast a shadow over its rapidly growing commercial launch sector. ISRO is attempting to gain a foothold in the global satellite launch market using its cost advantages, directly competing with industry giants like SpaceX.
Despite these challenges, India still maintains some growth momentum in the heavy-lift launch sector. In December 2025, India's heaviest rocket, LVM3, successfully carried out a commercial mission, sending a heavy satellite into orbit, demonstrating its potential in high-value launch services.
China: Accelerates Recyclable Technology Updates, Commercial Space Industry May Be Accelerated
On December 3, 2025, Blue Arrow Aerospace's Future No. 3 successfully achieved orbital flight, although the first-stage recovery failed, it verified the core flight control plan, with subsequent iterations expected. Recyclable technology is key to reducing launch costs by an order of magnitude, and its breakthrough means the biggest cost bottleneck for large-scale constellation construction is being broken.
At the same time, Chinese commercial space enterprises are facing a crucial moment in the capital market. Blue Arrow Aerospace's application for an IPO on the STAR Market was accepted by the Shanghai Stock Exchange on December 31, 2025, with a planned fundraising of 7.5 billion yuan, potentially becoming the "first stock in commercial aerospace."
In June this year, the China Securities Regulatory Commission officially included commercial aerospace in the scope of the fifth listing standard applicable to the STAR Market, allowing unprofitable enterprises with core technologies to go public. Following this, within just a few months, companies such as Zhongke Yuhang, Tianbing Technology, and Xinghe Dynamics initiated listing guidance.
According to Guojin Securities, China launched about 35 rockets in 2020 and approximately 66 in 2025, with relatively slow growth. Once recyclable rockets achieve milestone progress in commercialization, they could accelerate China's deployment of low-orbit satellites.
According to an earlier report by the Shanghai Securities News, China applied to the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) in December 2025 for over 200,000 satellite frequency and orbital resources, with 190,000 coming from the newly established "national team" Radio Innovation Institute. This is the first new research institution in China's radio management technology field aimed at technological innovation and achievement conversion, indicating that satellite frequency and orbital resource applications have risen to the level of national strategy.
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Original: toutiao.com/article/7594462220780601871/
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