China has initiated a two-year commercial trial of satellite Internet of Things (IoT) services, marking a strategic push to diversify space-based communication solutions and accelerate development in commercial aerospace and low-altitude economy sectors. The announcement came during the 2025 China 5G+Industrial Internet Conference in Wuhan, Hubei Province.
The trial enables qualified enterprises to legally operate satellite IoT systems that connect terrestrial, maritime, and aerial devices across critical sectors. Key applications include:
Marine fishery monitoring
Smart logistics management
Energy infrastructure oversight
Emergency communication networks
This initiative follows the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology's August 2025 guidelines that streamlined market access for space-related technologies. Satellite communication infrastructure has seen accelerated development this year, with progress in constellation deployment and core technological innovations.
Industry analysts highlight the trial's potential to establish standardized security protocols while fostering public-private collaboration in China's rapidly evolving space economy. The program aims to create replicable operational models that could reshape global IoT connectivity standards.
