Guowang: Chinese for Starlink?

China ended another record-breaking year with the launch of three satellites in their Guowang megaconstellation on 31 Dec 2023.? When I read this, while I was impressed and happy about the news showing increases in space utilization in China (see this post for caveats), the biggest question I had was, “Wait, what? What is Guowang?”

The answer turns out to be that Guowang is the counter to SpaceX’s Starlink.? It is a megaconstellation planned to contain around 13,000 satellites !? This number was registered by the Chinese with the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) in 2020 .? Apparently, the word “Guowang” translates to “National Network.”

Guowang is planned to consist of sub-constellations ranging from 500-1,145 kilometers in altitude with inclinations between 30-85 degrees .? Similar to Starlink, the goal of Guowang is to establish broadband internet access all across the globe via satellite connection.

The project is the brainchild of the China Aerospace Science and Technology Group (CASC)’s Shanghai Academy of Spaceflight Technology (SAST) and the Innovation Academy for Microsatellites (IAMCAS) under the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS).?

But Guowang actually originated from a combination of other projects which were planned in the 2010s which were not meeting deadlines and thus were amalgamated into this super constellation.? Those projects were called Hongyan and Hongyun , planned by CASC and its sister defense giant China Aerospace Science and Industry Corporation (CASIC) respectively.

A second megaconstellation has already also been planned and is beginning manufacture by China.? The G60 Starlink (is this just what we are calling broadband megaconstellations now?) is a 12,000 satellite project which plans to launch the first 104 satellites in 2024 and will operate in the Ku, Q and V bands. ?It is a bit of a mystery whether this new constellation plans to replace Guowang or be in addition to it.

So, given this better understanding (as basic as it is) it brings me to the inevitable moral discussion involved.? As I see it there are two big issues here: ?(1) is this yet another example of China “ripping off” US innovations?? And (2) at what point is too many satellites in Low-Earth-Orbit (LEO) actually going to be recognized as too much?? Both questions are admittedly extremely subjective in their construction.? But they are nevertheless important to consider.

First, is China ripping off the US with this project?? My answer (as untechnical as it may be) is a resounding no!? It is vital, both for security purposes as well as intellectual property reasons that technology be protected from being inappropriately copied or stolen by anyone, to include Chinese actors.? I am a believer in the economic market (to an extent) and that market power ceases to exist where security and property rights are not respected.? And does this happen, does China violate these rights, the evidence available to the public seems to suggest the answer is YES, it happens far too often!

That being said though, to suggest that Guowang is an example of this is in my opinion a huge over exaggeration. ?One might as well accuse the US of copying the USSR by creating a “rocket” after the launch of sputnik.? A megaconstellation, like a rocket, is an idea way to broad to try and attribute ownership of.? With the number of megaconstellations being planned across the US alone, the idea that a broadband megaconstellation can or should be chalked up to yet another Chinese rip-off is laughable at best, and a bit mean-spirited at worst.

Now, the second question is far more pressing.? At what point is enough, enough?? What will the rules be for the inevitable interactions between Guowang and Starlink?? For the mutual benefit of everyone I would hope that those involved would have all the motivation necessary to play nice on the international stage. ?But the best hopes are often dashed on the concrete pavement of reality.

My recommendation is that the interested scholar of space law and policy pay close attention to the development of Guowang.? It is easy to plan a constellation, as SpaceX continues to demonstrate (and set records doing so).? Actually putting megaconstellation plans into practice is a lot harder.? But assuming all goes according to plan, or more likely, leads to better plans, the eventuality of a conflict of limited orbital space coming to head is almost 100%.? So, rules of the road will be required!

That’s what I learned today.

***The opinions included here are my own and do not necessarily reflect that of anyone, including any organization, agency, or person other than myself.***