2024 September 6th, Taiyuan, China – Zhejiang Geely Holding Group’s strategically invested subsidiary, Geespace, has reached a major milestone in its satellite network project. At 2.30 AM Beijing time on September 6th, 2024, the company successfully launched the third orbital plane of the ‘Geely Future Mobility Constellation’ from the Taiyuan Satellite Launch Center. This latest launch deployed 10 satellites, all of which entered their designated orbits and are operating as expected.
Expanding Coverage: 30 Satellites in Orbit with 90% Global Reach
The ‘Geely Future Mobility Constellation’, also known as GEESATCOM and developed by Geespace, is a low Earth orbit (LEO) satellite constellation designed to provide comprehensive global communication and ‘Vehicle-2-Everything’ connectivity services. Following this latest launch, the constellation now comprises of 30 satellites, offering 24/7 communication coverage to 90% of the world. This deployment marks the first instance a Chinese commercial aerospace company has offered LEO satellite communication services on a global scale.
Aiming for Full Deployment by 2025
The GEESATCOM Project, initiated in 2019, has marked significant progress with three successful launches in 2022 and 2024. With nearly half of the first-phase satellites now in orbit, global commercial services are expected to commence by the end of this year. The first phase is scheduled for completion by the end of 2025, ensuring seamless global coverage and positioning Geespace as a prominent player in the satellite communication sector.
Three-Phase Plan for Diverse Applications
The deployment of GEESATCOM is strategically divided into three phases.
In Phase One, 72 satellites will be launched to provide global real-time data communication, while supporting mid-to-low-speed satellite services across multiple sectors, from autonomous driving and smart connectivity, to consumer electronics and beyond. By end of Phase One, GEESATCOM aims to serve over 200 million users worldwide.
Phase Two will introduce 264 additional satellites to enable direct-to-cell communication, extending services to existing mobile phones globally.
In Phase Three, 5,676 multimedia satellites will be added, offering high-speed LEO broadband communication that caters to both consumer and industrial needs.
Global Services Launched Ahead of Schedule
Since commencing global commercial services, GEESATCOM has become the first Chinese commercial LEO satellite constellation to achieve international deployment. In October 2023, Geespace partnered with Malaysian telecom operator Altel to introduce satellite solutions in Southeast Asia. In June 2024, Geespace completed its first overseas deployment test in Oman in collaboration with Azyan Telecom. This partnership aims to promote satellite services across the Middle East and Africa, with plans to expand region-wide by 2025.