China has begun a two-year commercial trial of satellite Internet of Things (IoT) services, announced at the 2025 China 5G+ Industrial Internet Conference in Wuhan. The initiative aims to diversify the satellite communication market and support emerging industries such as commercial aerospace and the low-altitude economy.
The trial will allow eligible enterprises to conduct satellite IoT services under regulatory oversight, focusing on low-speed data connectivity for devices including data collection terminals, wearable devices, handheld terminals, and vehicles. Unlike satellite internet designed for high-speed human communication, satellite IoT provides wide-area coverage for machine-to-machine interaction.
Authorities highlighted that the program will stimulate innovation, enhance industry service capabilities, and establish a security regulatory system. The trial is expected to lay the foundation for AI-based industrial infrastructure, enabling automated decision-making and intelligent interaction across sectors.
The launch underscores China’s ambition to build an integrated space-air-ground network, expanding connectivity to remote and underserved regions while strengthening its position in the global satellite IoT ecosystem.
