China has achieved a major milestone in satellite-to-ground laser communications, surpassing Elon Musk's Starlink
China has achieved a major milestone in satellite-to-ground laser communications, surpassing Elon Musk's Starlink.
They successfully reached a 100 gigabit per second data transmission rate, ten times faster than their previous record. Chang Guang Satellite Technology, behind the Jilin-1 constellation, accomplished this feat.
The data was transmitted between a mobile truck-based ground station and one of the 117 satellites in Earth's orbit, putting Chang Guang ahead of Starlink, which hasn't yet deployed laser satellite-to-ground communication.
Chang Guang plans to equip all satellites in the Jilin-1 constellation with laser communication units, aiming to network 300 satellites by 2027.
Their compact laser terminal, launched in June 2023, enables efficient data transmission despite atmospheric disturbances and rapid satellite movement. This advancement will enhance China's space capabilities, including navigation, 6G internet, and remote sensing.