China has submitted filings to the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) for over 200,000 satellites, marking the largest satellite constellation proposal in history. The filings, disclosed by the ITU on January 11, 2026, include two mega-constellations named CTC-1 and CTC-2, each comprising 96,714 satellites. These projects were filed by the Institute of Radio Spectrum Utilization and Technological Innovation, a newly established national research institute based in Hebei Province.
The move underscores China's accelerating ambitions in low-Earth orbit (LEO) satellite deployment, a sector critical for high-speed global communications. Other Chinese firms, such as Shanghai Spacesail Technologies and China Satellite Network Group, have also announced plans for constellations totaling 15,000 and 13,000 satellites, respectively. As of August 2024, China had filed for 51,300 satellites, signaling a rapid scaling of its space infrastructure.
Globally, the race for orbital resources has intensified. On January 9, the U.S. Federal Communications Commission approved SpaceX's plan to expand its Starlink Gen2 network to 15,000 satellites, with long-term goals of reaching 42,000. Under ITU rules, operators must deploy satellites within set timelines to retain spectrum and orbital rights, adding urgency to these projects.
Experts warn that congestion in LEO orbits could heighten risks of collisions and signal interference, necessitating stronger international coordination. With over 200,000 satellites now proposed by Chinese entities alone, the balance between technological advancement and sustainable space management will dominate discussions in 2026.
