Chinese researchers make Arctic-to-Antarctic call using rival to Musk’s Starlink

The Guowang network’s deployment is at an early stage, with around 180 satellites in orbit compared to Starlink’s 11,000

Polar researchers have used a would-be Chinese rival to Elon Musk’s Starlink to make a satellite video call between the Arctic and Antarctic – the first publicly reported test of the Guowang constellation.

The call highlights the growing capabilities of the country’s satellite constellations, according to state media.

Beijing has been accelerating the development of its low-Earth-orbit constellations in recent years, particularly as the US-based Starlink showed its wartime value by helping Ukraine resist the full-scale Russian invasion. China has barred foreign satellite communications services from its territory over data security concerns.

The near-real-time call took place in late September between researchers on three Chinese Arctic expedition ships – the Xuelong, the Jidi and the Tansuo-3 – and personnel at China’s Qinling Station in Antarctica, according to state broadcaster CCTV. The delay on the call was reportedly below one second.