China's satellite internet achieves 1Gbps, five times faster than Starlink
The breakthrough, which could revolutionise satellite internet, addresses one of the key limitations of space-based communications: atmospheric turbulence.
The development, led by Liu Chao from the Chinese Academy of Sciences and Professor Wu Jian from Peking University of Posts and Telecommunications, combines two advanced technologies – Adaptive Optics (AO) and Mode Diversity Reception (MDR) – to ensure fast, stable connections.
Researchers were able to develop a high-speed, reliable satellite internet connection capable of providing data transmission at 1Gbps, far surpassing the performance of current satellite services like Starlink.
While Starlink satellites orbit around 341 miles above Earth, the Chinese team's satellite operates at an impressive 22,807 miles above the planet, achieving these speeds despite the increased distance.
Chinese researchers have just achieved a new 1Gbps data transmission from a geostationary satellite – this kind of speed is unheard of, even for Elon Musk's Starlink. https://t.co/8jJpbG2gT7 — TechRadar (@techradar) June 24, 2025
This innovation is significant not only for its speed but also for its low error rate, which has increased by nearly 20% compared to previous methods.
The experiment was conducted using a 5.9-foot telescope at the Lijiang observatory in China, employing a two-watt laser, the equivalent of the power used by a nightlight.
Through a combination of optical adjustments and real-time signal selection, the researchers were able to maintain exceptional connection quality, even with the vast distance to the satellite.
The implications of this technology extend beyond internet use on Earth. Its potential could transform communications for space missions and satellite navigation systems.
Additionally, if this technology is successfully implemented, it may offer a more reliable internet service in remote areas, including places where traditional broadband is unavailable, providing an alternative to Starlink and other satellite providers.
However, it is still in the experimental phase, with the findings published in Acta Optica Sinica as a proof of concept.
If commercialised, it could challenge existing satellite internet services and lead to faster, more reliable connections for users around the globe.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Express Tribune
2 days ago
- Express Tribune
World's first humanoid robot games begin in China
The world's first-ever humanoid robot games began Friday in Beijing, with over 500 androids alternating between jerky tumbles and glimpses of real power as they compete in events from the 100-metre hurdles to kung fu. Hundreds of robotics teams from 16 countries are going for gold at the Chinese capital's National Speed Skating Oval, built for the 2022 Winter Olympics. The games include traditional sports like athletics and basketball, as well as practical tasks such as medicine categorisation and cleaning. "I believe in the next 10 years or so, robots will be basically at the same level as humans," enthusiastic 18-year-old spectator Chen Ruiyuan told AFP. Human athletes might not be quaking in their boots just yet. At one of the first events on Friday morning, five-aside football, 10 robots the size of seven-year-olds shuffled around the pitch, often getting stuck in a scrum or falling over en masse. However, in a 1500-metre race, domestic champion Unitree's humanoids stomped along the track at an impressive clip, easily outpacing their rivals. The fastest robot AFP witnessed finished in 6:29:37, a far cry from the human men's world record of 3:26:00. One mechanical racer barrelled straight into a human operator. The robot remained standing, while the human was knocked flat, though did not appear to be injured. Robot competitions have been held for decades, but the 2025 World Humanoid Robot Games is the first to focus specifically on robots that resemble human bodies, organisers said. The Chinese government has poured support into robotics hoping to lead the industry. Beijing has put humanoids in the "centre of their national strategy", the International Federation of Robotics wrote in a paper on Thursday. "The government wants to showcase its competence and global competitiveness in this field of technology," it added. Authorities are working to raise awareness of the sector across society. Cui Han, accompanying her 10-year-old, told AFP that her son's school had organised and paid for the trip to the Games. "I hope it will encourage him to learn more about these new technologies," she said. In March, China announced plans for a one-trillion-yuan fund to support technology startups, including those in robotics and AI. The country is already the world's largest market for industrial robots, official statistics show, and in April, Beijing held what organisers dubbed the world's first humanoid robot half-marathon. Chen, the spectator, told AFP he was about to begin studying automation at university. "Coming here can cultivate my passion for this field," he said. "My favourite is the boxing, because... it requires a lot of agility and I can really see how the robots have improved from before." Meanwhile, at the kung fu competition area, a pint-sized robot resembling one from the popular Transformer series attempted to execute a move, but fell flat on its front. It spun around on the floor as it struggled to get back up, the crowd happily cheering.
Business Recorder
2 days ago
- Business Recorder
Robots race, play football, crash and collapse at China's ‘robot Olympics'
BEIJING: China kicked off the three-day long World Humanoid Robot Games on Friday, looking to showcase its advances in artificial intelligence and robotics with 280 teams from 16 countries. Robots competed in sports such as track and field, and table tennis, as well as tackled robot-specific challenges from sorting medicines and handling materials to cleaning services. Teams came from countries including the United States, Germany and Brazil, with 192 representing universities and 88 from private enterprises such as China's Unitree and Fourier Intelligence. Competing teams used robots from Chinese manufacturers such as Booster Robotics. 'We come here to play and to win. But we are also interested in research,' said Max Polter, a member of HTWK Robots football team from Germany, affiliated with Leipzig University of Applied Sciences. 'You can test a lot of interesting new and exciting approaches in this contest. If we try something and it doesn't work, we lose the game. That's sad but it is better than investing a lot of money into a product which failed.' At the robot games in Beijing, which charged 128 to 580 yuan ($17.83-$80.77) for tickets, humanoids crashed into each other and toppled over repeatedly during football matches, while others collapsed mid-sprint during running events. During one football match, four robots crashed into each other and fell in a tangled heap. In the 1500-metre running event, one robot suddenly collapsed while running at full speed, drawing gasps and cheers from spectators. Despite frequent tumbles requiring human assistance to help robots stand, many managed to right themselves independently, earning applause from audiences. Humanoid robots stride into the future with world's first half-marathon Organisers said the games provide valuable data collection opportunities for developing robots for practical applications such as factory work. Football matches help train robots' coordination abilities, which could prove useful for assembly line operations requiring collaboration between multiple units, commentators said. China is investing billions of dollars in humanoids and robotics as the country grapples with an ageing population and growing competition with the U.S. over advanced technologies. It has staged a series of high-profile robotics events in recent months, including what it called the world's first humanoid robot marathon in Beijing, a robot conference and the opening of retail stores dedicated to humanoid robots. Morgan Stanley analysts in a report last week noted a surge in attendance to a recent robot conference from the general public compared to previous years, saying this showed 'how China, not just top government officials, has embraced the concept of embodied intelligence.'
Express Tribune
5 days ago
- Express Tribune
Sesame project targets 5,000-tonne exports
Listen to article On August 11, a delegation from the Silk Road Biohealth Agriculture Industry Alliance of Northwest A&F University (NWAFU) visited the Biohealth Sesame Order Demonstration Farm in Sahiwal, Punjab. The farm operates under the China-Pakistan Biohealth Agriculture (BHA) Overseas Technology Demonstration Park. Built jointly by China Machinery Engineering Corporation (CMEC), NWAFU, and Pakistan's Ayub Agricultural Research Institute, the project introduced high-quality Chinese sesame varieties and advanced production technologies. "Through experiments, we identified varieties suited to Pakistan and developed technical standards for bio-healthy sesame production," said project leader Professor Zhang Lixin. Pakistani students trained at NWAFU, including Dr Ammar, now serve as core technical personnel. Harvested sesame undergoes initial processing at CMEC plants, with testing in a joint lab. Qualified products are exported to China for use in food, pharmaceuticals, and industry. The project has set up 12 standardised farms covering 500 acres, working with over 120 farmers under a contract farming model. Last year's first contracted crop exported about 3,500 tonnes to China. By 2025, exports are expected to reach 5,000 tonnes, creating over 500 long-term local jobs. The farm aims to expand to 50,000 acres, producing around 23,000 tonnes, over 5% of Pakistan's sesame area. Pakistan currently grows sesame on about 1 million acres, producing 350,000450,000 tonnes annually, though weather causes fluctuations. Torrential rains last year cut output to 310,000 tonnes. Zhang noted that wider adoption of advanced technology could push yields in good years above 500,000 tonnes. Local sesame varieties mostly come from the TS and TH series. Of 10 experimental varieties tested, four exceeded yields of 130 kg per mu (0.165 acres), with the highest at 230 kg. These results, from internal trials, require larger-scale testing. Rainfall, sunlight, and fertilisation all strongly affect yields, making seasonal adaptation and weather-based measures vital. Future plans include online seminars, farm visits, and training programmes, covering flood-resistant varieties, special fertilisers, biopesticides, drone spraying, mechanised harvesting, and smart farm management. "The bio-health industry chain model linking enterprises, universities, and farms will help bio-health agriculture continues to prosper and develop in Pakistan," Zhang said.
