Has Elon Musk’s Starlink met its match in Chinese company SpaceSail? What you need to know

Elon Musk has made his company Starlink a global name. But the fast rise of one company may be a threat to his dominance in providing satellite internet services.

SpaceSail, a Chinese Low Earth orbit (LEO) mega constellation operator, partnered with Malaysian satellite solutions provider Measat recently. The company will provide satellite communications and broadband Internet services to Measat.

As per a report by Space News, the services provided by SpaceSail include the use of its Thousand Sails network of satellites (called Qianfan), satellite-based Internet of Things solutions and Direct-to-Device (D2D) communications.

Why SpaceSail could be a threat to Starlink?

The deal with Malaysia and a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) inked with Brazil last year have made SpaceSail a big player in providing satellite services to countries.

The company uses LEOs, which have faster response times due to their presence in the lower Earth orbit.

These spacecrafts provide better coverage, particularly in high-altitude areas and remote regions.

The company’s growing network of satellites, government funding and access to Chinese-built satellites, rockets and ground stations have given it immense capacity for innovation, NDTV reported.

Also Read : Kanye West accused of harassing Jewish employee at Yeezy and referencing Hitler in lawsuit

It could be a major player in regions where Starlink has not been able to establish a presence, such as Africa and Latin America.

Elon Musk’s policies could hurt Starlink?

Elon Musk has been a divisive figure in countries like Brazil. The billionaire’s political leanings and disputes have impacted his businesses.

In Brazil, a months-long dispute between Musk and the country’s apex court resulted in his social media app X (formerly Twitter) being banned for a while there.

As for Starlink, it hasn’t been able to gain a significant market share of Brazil’s broadband market, holding only 0.5 per cent of total customers. This is despite Starlink being the biggest provider of satellite internet services, as per a Fortune report.

The dispute with Musk coincided with SpaceSail signing an MoU with Brazilian telecommunications company Telecomunicacoes Brasileiras S.A. (Telebras).

With Musk’s rants against laws in countries like South Africa and other controversies, more countries might opt for SpaceSail over Starlink.

Also Read : Donald Trump’s tariffs target European carmakers amid intensifying US-EU trade war

SpaceSail vs Starlink: A new phase in US-China trade war?

With Musk leading the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), growing competition from a Chinese company could escalate a US-China satellite services race for influence in developing nations, potentially impacting broader trade relations between the two nations.

FAQs

1. How many satellites does SpaceSail have in orbit?
As of January 2025, it has 72 satellites in orbit.


2. Where does SpaceSail get state-backed funding from?
The Shanghai Spacecom Satellite Technology (SSST) is a big source of funds.