China Launches First Satellites of Constellation to Rival Starlink 

The Long March-2F Y13 rocket, carrying the Shenzhou-13 spacecraft and three astronauts in China's second crewed mission to build its own space station, launches at Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center near Jiuquan, Gansu province, China October 16, 2021. (Reuters)
The Long March-2F Y13 rocket, carrying the Shenzhou-13 spacecraft and three astronauts in China's second crewed mission to build its own space station, launches at Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center near Jiuquan, Gansu province, China October 16, 2021. (Reuters)
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China Launches First Satellites of Constellation to Rival Starlink 

The Long March-2F Y13 rocket, carrying the Shenzhou-13 spacecraft and three astronauts in China's second crewed mission to build its own space station, launches at Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center near Jiuquan, Gansu province, China October 16, 2021. (Reuters)
The Long March-2F Y13 rocket, carrying the Shenzhou-13 spacecraft and three astronauts in China's second crewed mission to build its own space station, launches at Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center near Jiuquan, Gansu province, China October 16, 2021. (Reuters)

A Chinese state-owned enterprise on Monday launched the first batch of satellites for a mega-constellation designed to rival US company Space X's Starlink's near-global internet network, a state-backed newspaper reported.

The launch marks an important step in Beijing's strategic goal of creating its own version of Starlink, a growing commercial broadband constellation that has about 5,500 satellites in space and is used by consumers, companies and government agencies.

The competition to occupy Earth's lower orbits also has military implications, with the potential to affect the balance of power between warring countries.

The launch, led by Shanghai Spacecom Satellite Technology (SSST), took place at Taiyuan Satellite Launch Centre, one of China's main satellite and missile launch centers, located in the northern province of Shanxi, the China Securities Journal reported.

The launch is part of SSST's "Thousand Sails Constellation" plan, also known as the "G60 Starlink Plan", which began last year and aims to deploy more than 15,000 low Earth orbit (LEO) satellites.

LEO satellites usually operate at altitudes of 300km to 2,000km from the Earth's surface and have the advantage of being cheaper and providing more efficient transmission than satellites at higher orbits.

Starlink, operated by billionaire Elon Musk, has tens of thousands of users in the United States so far and plans to add tens of thousands more satellites to its system, the largest of its kind.

Chinese researchers in the People's Liberation Army (PLA) have over the past two years studied the deployment of Starlink in the war in Ukraine and repeatedly warned about the risks it poses to China, should the country find itself in a military conflict with the United States.

In January, an op-ed published in a PLA mouthpiece described the deployment of Starlink as a "serious threat to the security of space assets of various countries."

SSST's "Thousand Sails constellation" is one of three "ten-thousand star constellation" plans China is hoping will allow it to close the gap with SpaceX.

SSST's plan is to launch 108 satellites this year, 648 satellites by the end of 2025, provide a "global network coverage" by 2027, and get to 15,000 satellites deployed before 2030.

SSST did not immediately respond to a request for comment on the report.



Saudi SDAIA, NEOM Partner to Bolster Research and Innovation in AI

SDAIA President Dr. Abdullah Al-Ghamdi and NEOM CEO Nadhmi Al-Nasr signed the MoU during the third edition of the Global AI Summit in Riyadh. (SPA)
SDAIA President Dr. Abdullah Al-Ghamdi and NEOM CEO Nadhmi Al-Nasr signed the MoU during the third edition of the Global AI Summit in Riyadh. (SPA)
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Saudi SDAIA, NEOM Partner to Bolster Research and Innovation in AI

SDAIA President Dr. Abdullah Al-Ghamdi and NEOM CEO Nadhmi Al-Nasr signed the MoU during the third edition of the Global AI Summit in Riyadh. (SPA)
SDAIA President Dr. Abdullah Al-Ghamdi and NEOM CEO Nadhmi Al-Nasr signed the MoU during the third edition of the Global AI Summit in Riyadh. (SPA)

The Saudi Data and AI Authority (SDAIA) signed on Wednesday a memorandum of understanding with NEOM to boost cooperation and exchange expertise in research and innovation within the data and AI sector.

The collaboration aims to support NEOM's objectives as a leading project in developing cognitive cities in the Kingdom.

SDAIA President Dr. Abdullah Al-Ghamdi and NEOM CEO Nadhmi Al-Nasr signed the MoU during the third edition of the Global AI Summit, currently underway in Riyadh from September 10 to 12.

The MoU represents a concerted effort to promote integration between the public and private sectors in the Kingdom in alignment with the objectives of Vision 2030.

Through these partnerships, SDAIA aims to bolster the digital economy and innovation in AI. This approach will elevate the Kingdom's position and realize its economic ambitions in the information, data, and AI sectors.