China beats Starlink in space-to-ground laser transmission with 6G

Commercial satellite company hits 100Gbps speed record — 10 times faster than its previous feat less than a year ago

China has made significant progress in satellite-to-ground laser communications, potentially paving the way for 6G and other applications including ultra-high-resolution remote sensing and next-generation satellite positioning technology.

Changguang Satellite Technology Co., which owns the world’s largest remote sensing satellite constellation, Jilin-1, said it achieved an ultra-fast image data transmission rate of 100Gbps in tests conducted over the weekend.

The company said the feat — 10 times faster than the previous record — was achieved between a ground station mounted on a truck and one of the 117 satellites that currently make up the Jilin constellation.