China Tests Domestic Satellite Internet Across Arctic and Antarctica

The Government of China successfully completed quasi-operational application tests of its domestically developed GW satellite internet constellation along Arctic shipping routes. Using the research icebreaker Jidi during the 16th Arctic Ocean expedition, the team verified end-to-end network connectivity linking the Arctic, Antarctica, and the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau, effectively closing a global communications coverage gap.

The system demonstrated stability under extreme conditions, including ice fog and severe sandstorms, achieving peak symmetric bandwidth of approximately 30 megabits per second with latency under one second. The tests included the first video call between three polar vessels—Xuelong, Jidi, and Tansuo 3—and the Qinling Station in Antarctica. Additionally, the expedition conducted over 40 high-definition video consultations with hospitals in Qingdao for polar medical support and transferred more than 100 gigabytes of data.

To ensure data independence, China deployed the Zhigan ocean drifting buoy, allowing the state to control ocean data transmission without relying on international satellites. While the national satellite internet constellation is still under construction and not yet in full operational service, the results indicate China can reduce its reliance on foreign commercial satellites, which were previously characterized by high costs and security vulnerabilities. The infrastructure is expected to support future maritime emergency response, deep-ocean monitoring, and the global integrated 6G network.