China has made it a national priority to catch up with SpaceX’s nearly 8,000 Starlink internet-providing satellites in low-Earth orbit, which it regards as a military threat. Despite successes in other parts of its space program, China has just 124 internet-providing satellites in low-Earth orbit. Selam Gebrekidian, an investigative reporter for The New York Times, explains why China is lagging behind in this new space race.
The video explores the reasons behind this disparity. Factors such as regulatory bottlenecks, limited private-sector involvement, and international scrutiny are all slowing China’s efforts to compete in this new technological frontier. At the same time, China's push to catch up reflects not just a desire for technological parity but a deeper strategic calculus. In this era of increasing geopolitical tension, space has become a new domain for asserting global influence, and controlling data and connectivity from orbit is a key part of that equation.
Gebrekidan’s analysis sheds light on how the race for orbital internet dominance could shape the future of global communications, warfare, and international alliances. As the contest intensifies, it raises important questions about space governance, digital sovereignty, and the militarisation of what was once considered the final frontier.
Selam Gebrekidan, Nikolay Nikolov, Jon Hazell, Laura Salaberry and Malika Khurana | NYTimes Technology | Disclosure
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