China has taken a major leap in space-based internet technology, unveiling satellite laser communication that delivers speeds up to 1 Gbps, five times faster than Elon Musk’s Starlink. This advancement, revealed in a peer-reviewed study published on June 3, marks a new milestone in the race for global internet dominance.
A Giant Leap Beyond Starlink
Unlike Starlink, which uses a constellation of low-Earth orbit satellites, China’s breakthrough involves transmitting data from a satellite parked in a much higher geostationary orbit, more than 36,000 km above Earth. Using just a 2-watt laser, the Chinese team demonstrated a stable and high-speed downlink capable of overcoming atmospheric turbulence, a known challenge for laser-based communication.
This new system was tested at an observatory in Lijiang, where scientists aimed a 1.8-meter telescope at the satellite and used 357 micro-mirrors to reshape the distorted light caused by the Earth’s atmosphere. The result: minimal signal loss and a dramatic improvement in connection quality.
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AO-MDR Synergy: The Tech Behind the Breakthrough
To power this advancement, researchers led by Professor Wu Jian and Liu Chao introduced the AO-MDR synergy method. It combines adaptive optics (AO) with mode division recovery (MDR), two systems that, together, correct wavefront distortion and boost usable signal strength from 72% to an impressive 91.1%.
The system also includes a multi-plane light converter (MPLC), which splits incoming light into multiple channels, selects the strongest, and fuses them using a custom “path-picking” algorithm, all in real time.
What This Means for the Future
This innovation positions China ahead in the high-speed satellite internet race, especially in scenarios demanding large-scale, high-value data transfer. As Starlink continues to expand globally, China’s laser tech may soon offer a competitive, high-performance alternative—one with fewer errors, more stability, and massive potential for future space communication.
