China has quietly taken a major step that could reshape the future of low Earth orbit. In recent filings to the International Telecommunication Union, Chinese companies have applied to deploy more than 200,000 internet satellites, just weeks after Beijing publicly criticized SpaceX’s Starlink network as a growing collision hazard in space, as reported by the SCMP.
The filings, submitted by more than a dozen Chinese satellite operators, outline some of the largest megaconstellation proposals ever disclosed. Two of the most ambitious projects, known as CTC-1 and CTC-2, each propose constellations of 96,714 satellites. If approved and built as planned, these networks would dwarf every existing satellite system, including Starlink.
The timing is notable. China’s applications arrived shortly after it raised formal concerns about orbital congestion caused by Starlink, operated by SpaceX. Starlink already accounts for the majority of active satellites in low Earth orbit, with plans to expand to as many as 42,000 spacecraft. Beijing has argued that such dense deployments increase the risk of collisions and threaten the long-term sustainability of shared orbital environments.
Orbital slots and radio frequency spectrum are finite resources, and early movers can lock in long-term priority. The United States currently holds a strong advantage, reinforced by recent regulatory approval allowing Starlink to launch thousands of additional second-generation satellites. That decision strengthens Starlink’s position but also intensifies competition for limited orbital real estate.
China’s filings suggest a clear response. In addition to the massive CTC proposals, other state-linked and commercial players have outlined sizable networks. China Mobile has proposed a 2,520-satellite system, while Shanghai Spacecom has filed plans for the Qianfan constellation. Separate projects such as Guowang and expanded Qianfan deployments target tens of thousands of satellites by the end of the decade.
All of these applications are coordinated through the International Telecommunication Union, which oversees spectrum allocation and orbital coordination. Under ITU rules, operators must begin deploying satellites within seven years of filing and meet strict rollout milestones or risk losing their claims.
The contrast between public warnings and private filings highlights the strategic nature of the space race. While China has framed its concerns around safety, its applications indicate an intent to secure a dominant share of orbital capacity before it fills up. As more countries and companies pursue megaconstellations, low Earth orbit is rapidly becoming one of the most contested domains of global infrastructure.
If even a fraction of China’s proposed satellites are launched, congestion debates may soon shift from hypothetical risk to unavoidable reality.