A Chinese company has outpaced Starlink by implementing satellite-to-ground laser communication technology, paving the way for advancements in 6G, ultra-high-resolution remote sensing, and sophisticated satellite positioning systems, as reported by local media on Thursday.
Chang Guang Satellite Technology Co., recognized as the nation’s first remote-sensing satellite manufacturer and operator of the Jilin-1 satellite constellation, achieved a remarkable 100 Gbps data transmission speed during tests conducted last week, according to the South China Morning Post.
This milestone is ten times faster than the previous record and involved data transfer between a ground station mounted on a truck and one of the 117 satellites in the Jilin-1 constellation, as stated by the company.
Wang Hanghang, the head of the company’s laser communication ground station, noted that this advancement positions Chang Guang Satellite ahead of Starlink, the space venture owned by billionaire Elon Musk.
“We believe they may possess the technology, but we have already initiated large-scale deployment,” Wang remarked.
The company intends to equip all satellites within the Jilin-1 constellation with laser communication systems to boost operational efficiency, aiming for a network of 300 satellites by 2027, he further explained.
The next generation of wireless technology, 6G, is expected to significantly exceed 5G speeds, achieving over a terabit per second with extremely low latency of just 100 microseconds.
It seeks to deliver global connectivity by integrating networks on land, in the air, and in space, utilizing higher frequency waves, including those in the terahertz spectrum.
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