China has launched a commercial trial of satellite Internet of Things (IoT) services to diversify supply in the satellite communications market and support the safe and healthy development of emerging industries such as commercial aerospace and the low-altitude economy, Science and Technology Daily reported Saturday.
According to the China 5G+ Industrial Internet Conference held in Wuhan, central China’s Hubei Province, this commercial trial will last for two years and will support eligible enterprises in conducting satellite IoT services in accordance with laws and regulations.
This trial aims to diversify the offering in the satellite communications market, stimulate the vitality of market entities, strengthen the service capabilities of the industry, establish a security regulation system and develop reproducible and scalable experiments and models.
Satellite IoT uses satellite communication technology to connect a large number of devices on the ground, in the oceans and in the air, and provides data collection and transmission services. Its application scenarios cover maritime fisheries, transportation and logistics, energy and water resources, emergency communications, low-altitude economy and industrial Internet.
As an important component of new infrastructure, the development of satellite communication has entered an acceleration phase in China this year, with significant progress made in constellation construction, technological breakthroughs and industrial development.
In August 2025, the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology issued a guideline to optimize market access to promote the development of the satellite communications industry. This directive outlines a comprehensive plan and systematic approach for the opening of satellite communications services.
