China clears Geely for landmark satellite IoT test to spur commercial space sector

China has granted a permit for Geely-backed venture Zhejiang Geespace Technology to conduct the country's first commercial trial of satellite Internet of Things (IoT) services, signaling Beijing's efforts to stimulate its burgeoning satellite communications market. The Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT) awarded the two-year trial period to Geespace, the commercial arm of electric vehicle manufacturer Geely.

Geespace will offer low-power, wide-coverage connectivity across various industries, including smart transport, marine fisheries, energy, and water infrastructure. This marks the inaugural private Chinese entity to secure approval for a satellite IoT commercial trial, reflecting the government's drive to accelerate the growth of its commercial space sector.

In May, MIIT issued the nation's initial satellite IoT trial permit to Beijing Guodian High-Tech Technology, a state-owned entity backed by China Mobile. Satellite IoT facilitates low-speed data transmission via satellite networks to connect sensors, vehicles, and equipment, mainly targeting remote locations without conventional network coverage, such as oceans, deserts, and isolated infrastructure sites.

MIIT emphasized satellite IoT as a crucial adjunct to broadband satellite services, stating that the trial would facilitate further private-sector involvement in China's commercial space advancement. Founded in 2018, Geespace has joined a burgeoning group of Chinese commercial space companies operating their proprietary orbital networks.

The firm deployed 64 satellites across six missions between 2022 and 2025 to complete the first phase of its network, as reported on its website. Geespace's CEO, Wang Yang, disclosed in 2024 that the company aspires to eventually launch a constellation of over 5,600 satellites. This domestic milestone coincides with Geespace's expansion of its global presence, with the company having conducted trials with telecommunications operators in over 20 countries spanning the Middle East, Africa, Southeast Asia, Central Asia, South Asia, and Latin America, according to its website.