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An incoming Chinese-run rival to SpaceX’s Starlink service could beat the Elon Musk-owned company to launching satellite broadband services in South Africa. SpaceSail, also called “Qianfan,” the “Thousand Sails Constellation,” or “G60 Starlink”, is a low-earth orbit (LEO) satellite broadband service that aims to offer worldwide Internet coverage in the coming years.
The venture is run by the Shanghai Spacecom Satellite Technology (SSST) with financial backing from the Shanghai Municipal People’s Government and the Chinese Academy of Sciences.
SpaceSail launched its first 18 satellites for LEO connectivity on 6 August 2024. By January 2025, it had 72 satellites in orbit.
China Central Television has reported that the company plans to have 648 satellites in orbit by 2025 and 1,296 in total by the end of the constellation’s first phase rollout.
This is expected to increase to 15,000 satellites by 2030.
As of February 2025, Starlink had around 7,000 satellites providing connectivity to over five million customers in more than 100 countries.
The company is adding dozens of new satellites to its fleet every week and aims to have up to 34,400 in the future.
While SpaceSail will need to expand quickly to catch up to Starlink, it is important to note that the US firm already launched limited services when it had much fewer satellites in operation.
SpaceSail aims to begin offering commercial broadband services this year.
It could capitalise on an opportunity in markets that have resisted Starlink’s rollout over anti-US political or sovereignty concerns.
Starlink has been contracted to provide support for various US military programmes and has proven to be a valuable tool in warfare for its allies.
Starlink is not available and seems to have no plans to launch in China, Iran, Russia, Afghanistan, Syria, Cuba, North Korea, and Belarus. These countries are considered political or economic enemies of the US.
Starlink has also struggled with approvals in India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Vietnam, and numerous African countries.
An analysis by MyBroadband showed it only rolled out in 18% of the African countries it had planned for launch in 2024.
While it doubled its African footprint from seven to 14 countries, it pushed back estimated launch dates in 24 countries.
In South Africa, Starlink’s estimated launch date has been “unknown” since late 2022 due to the country’s stringent telecoms ownership rules.
The map below shows the status of Starlink availability around the world. Grey is used to show countries where Starlink does not plan to offer its services.
Starlink’s issue with South African laws
Unlike many other international companies operating locally, Starlink wants to deal directly with customers for its residential service and not partner with local Internet service providers (ISPs).
However, the Electronic Communications Act requires that telecoms licensees be 30% owned by historically disadvantaged groups (HDGs), including black people, youth, women, and people with disabilities.
The Independent Communications Authority of South Africa (Icasa) has also approved a rule that would require licensees to be 30% black-owned.
Although Icasa has put the implementation of this particular requirement on hold, it could come into effect at a moment’s notice and is like a sword hanging over the telecoms industry.
In late 2024, it seemed as though some progress was being made towards getting Starlink over the regulatory line in South Africa.
Communications minister Solly Malatsi said he would call on the Independent Communications Authority of South Africa (Icasa) to develop equity equivalents that would make it easier for international companies to operate locally.
President Cyril Ramaphosa also met with SpaceX founder and CEO Elon Musk on the sidelines of a United Nations meeting in New York last year to discuss potential investments in the country.
However, the recent diplomatic tension between the United States and South African governments has likely hurt any realistic prospects of Starlink launching in the near future.
Musk, the world’s richest man, has become a strong ally of US President Donald Trump and has criticised what he calls openly racist laws in South Africa, referring to black economic empowerment policies.
Musk recently said that Starlink was not allowed to operate in South Africa because he was not black.
In the wake of the political drama, South African Presidency spokesperson Vincent Magwenya has said that the government had halted discussions with Musk over potential investments into the country due to his “racist” and “unprogressive” views.
This may have been music to SpaceSail’s ears.
One indication of SpaceSail’s intention to launch in South Africa is the registration of eight “Spacesail” trademarks under three classes — telecommunications, computers and scientific devices, and scientific and technological services.
Considering this and South Africa’s growing bond with China and their shared membership in the BRICS group of countries, it is reasonable to assume the country is at least on SpaceSail’s radar.
Many state-backed Chinese companies, including major telecom equipment providers like Huawei and ZTE, have been able to seamlessly navigate South Africa’s ownership rules.
