According to the International Telecommunication Union (ITU), between December 25 and 31, 2025, China formally submitted applications for frequency and orbital resources for an additional 203,000 satellites, covering 14 constellations, including low- and medium-Earth orbit satellites. This represents China’s largest coordinated international satellite frequency and orbit filing to date.
The Radio Spectrum Development and Technology Innovation Institute (the “Radio Innovation Institute”) submitted applications for the CTC-1 and CTC-2 constellations, each requesting 96,714 satellites—a combined total of 193,428 satellites, accounting for over 95 percent of China’s submissions. Other applicants include China SatNet, China Mobile, and Yuanxin Satellite.
This large-scale filing is expected to stimulate the entire satellite industry chain—including manufacturing, launch, and operations—and drive China’s aerospace sector toward both large-scale growth and breakthroughs in core capabilities.
Source: People’s Daily, January 12, 2026
http://finance.people.com.cn/n1/2026/0112/c1004-40643364.html