China has approved its first private-sector commercial trial for satellite Internet of Things (IoT) services, granting a permit to Zhejiang Geespace Technology, the commercial space subsidiary of electric vehicle giant Geely. The approval, published in a notice by the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT), covers a two-year trial period.
The move marks a milestone in Beijing's strategy to open its burgeoning satellite communications market to private capital, a domain where service provision has long been dominated by state operators. By allowing a Geely-backed venture to test space-based IoT services, regulators signal an intent to accelerate private-sector participation while maintaining oversight of a strategically vital sector.
The permit is framed as part of broader efforts to spur China's commercial space industry, which has grown rapidly on the manufacturing side. Whether private operators can deliver infrastructure-grade connectivity services during the trial window will help shape the next phase of the market's liberalization.