BEIJING: A Chinese company has outpaced Starlink by successfully deploying satellite-to-ground laser communications, potentially paving the way for advancements in 6G, ultra-high-resolution remote sensing, and sophisticated satellite positioning technology, as reported by local media on Thursday.

According to Anadolu Agency, Chang Guang Satellite Technology Co., China's first remote-sensing satellite manufacturer and operator of the Jilin-1 constellation of satellites, achieved a significant milestone by conducting 100 Gbps high-speed data transmission tests last week. This accomplishment, reported by the South China Morning Post, marks a tenfold increase in speed compared to the previous record. The tests involved data transfer between a truck-mounted ground station and one of the 117 satellites within the Jilin-1 constellation.

Wang Hanghang, the company's chief of laser communication ground station, noted that this advancement positions Chang Guang Satellite ahead of Starlink, the space venture owned by billionaire Elon Musk. "We think they might have the technology, but we've already started large-scale deployment," Wang stated.

The firm has set its sights on equipping all satellites in the Jilin-1 constellation with laser communication units to boost operational efficiency, with the goal of creating a network of 300 satellites by 2027. "We plan to deploy these laser communication units across all satellites in the Jilin-1 constellation to improve their efficiency, with a goal of networking 300 satellites by 2027," Wang added.

The next generation of wireless technology, 6G, is expected to be significantly faster than 5G, offering speeds exceeding a terabit per second and an extremely low latency of just 100 microseconds. This technology aims to deliver global coverage by integrating networks on land, in the air, and in space, utilizing higher frequency waves, such as those within the terahertz range.