China‘s G60 Satellites to Launch Brazil’s Space Internet by 2026
||2024.11.29
China's massive satellite constellation project, "G60 Starlink" (or SpaceSail), being developed to compete with SpaceX's Starlink, is set to launch services in Brazil by 2026.
To achieve this, G60's operator, Shanghai Spacecom Satellite Technology (SSST), recently signed an MOU with Brazilian telecommunications company Telecomunicacoes Brasileiras S.A. (Telebras) to prepare for the service launch. SSST is a state-owned enterprise under the Shanghai municipal government. The key focus of the MOU is to study the demand for space-based internet in underserved regions of Brazil.
Jie Zheng, the head of the G60 project, revealed in a media interview on November 19 that G60 services in Brazil are expected to commence in 2026. He also announced plans to establish a subsidiary of SSST in Brazil by the end of 2024.
Starlink entered the Brazilian market in June 2022.
Jie Zheng stated, "The MOU between the two companies represents a shared commitment to empower Brazil's underserved regions. By combining Telebras' expertise and G60's cutting-edge solutions, we aim to support Brazil's national initiatives and improve access to essential services such as education and public health."
According to Bloomberg News, the first set of 18 G60 satellites was launched in August 2024, followed by the second batch of 18 satellites in October.
The G60 constellation is expected to consist of approximately 12,000 satellites. In the first phase of the project, 1,296 satellites will be deployed across 36 orbital planes in polar orbits, with 36 satellites per plane. The system will operate in the Ku, Q, and V frequency bands.
The goal is to launch 648 satellites by the end of 2025 to provide services to China and surrounding regions.
