Wenchang, Hainan – China achieved another milestone in its ambitious space-based internet program on Monday, January 19, 2026, with the successful deployment of the 19th group of low-orbit internet satellites using a Long March-12 carrier rocket. The launch, reported by state-run Xinhua News Agency, took place at 3:48 p.m. local time (07:48 GMT) from the Hainan International Commercial Aerospace Launch Center in Wenchang, on the southern island province of Hainan.
The rocket, designated Long March-12 Y5, lifted off from Commercial Launch Pad 2 at the coastal facility, propelling its payloads into a predetermined low Earth orbit (LEO). Mission controllers confirmed that all satellites entered their preset orbits successfully, marking a complete success for the flight. This mission represents the second launch of low-orbit internet satellites for China's national constellation in 2026, following an earlier deployment earlier in the month.
The satellites form part of the GuoWang (国网, or "National Network") constellation, also known as SatNet or Huliangwang in some references, a state-led megaconstellation project managed by China Satellite Network Group Co., Ltd. (China SatNet), a wholly state-owned enterprise under the supervision of the State-owned Assets Supervision and Administration Commission (SASAC). GuoWang aims to provide global broadband internet services, with an initial focus on domestic coverage before expanding worldwide.
The constellation is designed to rival international competitors such as SpaceX's Starlink, offering high-speed, low-latency connectivity through thousands of small satellites in LEO. Equipped with advanced technologies including phased-array antennas, millimeter-wave communication systems, and integrated onboard electronics, these satellites enable efficient data transmission, beamforming, and direct-to-device connectivity in future applications.
This latest batch adds to the growing fleet. As of early 2026, GuoWang has deployed over 150 satellites across multiple groups, with plans to reach approximately 400 in orbit by 2027. The overall target for the constellation stands at nearly 13,000 satellites, positioning it as one of the largest planned LEO networks globally. Deployment has accelerated in recent months, with multiple launches in late 2025 and into 2026 contributing to steady progress.
The Long March-12 rocket family, developed by the China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation (CASC) through its commercial arm, has proven reliable for these missions. The vehicle made its debut in November 2024 from the same Wenchang Commercial Space Launch Site, and all five flights to date—including this Y5 mission—have been successful. The rocket is optimized for medium-lift payloads to LEO and has become a workhorse for deploying commercial and state-backed satellite batches from Hainan.
The Hainan commercial launch site itself plays a pivotal role in China's space ambitions. Located on the eastern coast of Hainan Island, the facility benefits from favorable geography—low latitude for energy-efficient equatorial orbits, proximity to the sea for safer downrange stages, and year-round favorable weather. It has emerged as a key hub for commercial space activities, supporting both state and private sector missions. This launch marked the site's continued utilization for GuoWang deployments, following the 18th group sent aloft by a Long March-8A rocket on January 13 or 14, 2026.
Experts highlight the strategic importance of such constellations. Yang Kuan, vice president of the Beijing Institute of Technology's Aerospace Policy and Law Institute, noted that low-orbit satellite networks serve as critical infrastructure for emerging technologies. They support scenarios like smartphone-satellite direct connections and form the backbone of integrated 6G space-ground information networks, enabling seamless global connectivity, disaster response, remote sensing, and broadband access in underserved regions.
China's push into mega-constellations aligns with broader national goals to achieve technological self-reliance and compete in the global digital economy. Alongside GuoWang, the country is advancing the Qianfan (Thousand Sails) project, backed by Shanghai municipal authorities and operated by Shanghai Spacesail Technologies (also known as G60 Starlink). Qianfan targets over 15,000 satellites by the 2030s, with hundreds already launched since its first batch in 2024.
In late 2025, China submitted ambitious filings to the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) for two additional proposed constellations, CTC-1 and CTC-2, each seeking orbital slots and spectrum for up to 96,714 satellites—nearly 200,000 in total. While these filings may primarily secure future spectrum rights amid intensifying orbital competition, they underscore Beijing's long-term vision to dominate space-based communications.
The January 19 launch is China's seventh space mission of 2026 and the 628th flight in the storied Long March series, which has become synonymous with the nation's rapid space progress. With plans for over 100 orbital missions this year, China continues to expand its capabilities in satellite deployment, reusable rocketry development, and commercial space infrastructure.
As GuoWang grows, it promises to enhance national security, economic development, and international connectivity initiatives under frameworks like the Belt and Road. However, the proliferation of LEO satellites also raises global concerns about space debris, orbital congestion, astronomical interference, and equitable access to spectrum—issues that international bodies like the ITU and UN Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space continue to address.
This successful mission reinforces China's position as a major space power, steadily building the infrastructure for a sovereign, high-performance satellite internet ecosystem that could reshape global digital landscapes in the coming decade.
