Chinese space firm deploys IoT satellite constellation for global coverage

A Chinese satellite constellation for Internet of Things (IoT) operations has deployed its first-phase network with 64 satellites, enabling real-time, global surface communications excluding polar regions.

It came after a rocket lifted off on Wednesday from the sea in east China's Shandong Province, sending 11 Geely-06 satellites into a preset orbit.

Geespace, the private satellite arm of automaker Geely Holding Group, deployed its constellation with six launches from 2022 to 2025, delivering full satellite reliability and network availability.

The constellation is designed to serve 20 million users worldwide, capable of handling up to 340 million messages per day. Serving up to 5 million high-frequency users and 15 million medium- and low-frequency users, it transmits 1,900-byte packets for text, voice and images.

The first-phase network is poised to expand to 72 satellites, boosting capacity and enhancing service reliability. Geespace then plans to have 264 satellites in orbit in Phase Two for direct-to-smartphone links and 5,676 in Phase Three for global broadband. With its first phase complete, Geespace is planning to roll out commercial satellite-IoT connectivity worldwide.

Built for space-based connected-vehicle networks, the constellation enables real-time positioning and messaging, keeping cars continuously linked.

Geespace has partnered with China Unicom, Geely Auto, and construction machinery giant Zoomlion to pilot satellite-IoT fusion in smart vehicles, marine fisheries, heavy machinery, and logistics.

Supported by the constellation, some Geely Zeekr and Galaxy electric vehicles now feature space communication. Users can send and receive messages via satellite when ground networks are disrupted.