Astronomie

January 18, 2026, 4:04 AM EST. China submitted December 2023 filings to the ITU for two mega-constellations, CTC-1 and CTC-2, each listing 96,714 satellites. The Institute of Radio Spectrum Utilization and Technological Innovation led the effort, with proposals from the China Satellite Network Group and major operators including China Mobile, China Telecom and private firms such as Spacety, GalaxySpace and Shanghai Yuanxin. The package signals a state-driven push to build a global satellite internet and coordinate spectrum. If realized, it would intensify competition for orbital slots and radio frequencies, adding pressure to an already congested low-Earth orbit. Today SpaceX accounts for roughly three quarters of active satellites; China's filings would dramatically expand the field and reshape access to space.