Catching up with SpaceX: Europe, Canada, and Japan are all making efforts, and even India is getting involved...

A global race surrounding low Earth orbit satellite internet is accelerating. From Europe to the Asia-Pacific, governments and commercial space enterprises are attempting to break SpaceX’s dominance in the satellite communications sector by promoting the construction of domestic satellite constellations. This is not only about business interests, but also concerns national security and strategic autonomy. Last Friday, the U.S. Federal Communications Commission (FCC) approved SpaceX to deploy an additional 7,500 second-generation Starlink satellites, bringing the total approved number of second-generation satellites in orbit to 15,000. The company currently operates around 9,400 satellites and is expected to complete 154 launches by 2025, accounting for over 80% of the total launches in the U.S. Facing SpaceX’s overwhelming advantage, countries and regions such as Europe, Canada, Japan, and India are rapidly advancing their commercial space strategies. In November, the European Space Agency approved a record-breaking €22 billion three-year budget, with about €900 million allocated to support five start-ups that have not yet achieved orbital launches. The Canadian government has pledged to invest nearly 183 million Canadian dollars over three years to improve domestic space launch capabilities. The Japanese government, in its FY2025 supplementary budget, listed 150 billion yen to support enterprises in creating a “Japanese version of Starlink.” ## United States: SpaceX Approved to Expand by 7,500 Satellites, Technology Upgrade Targets Gigabit Speed The total number of U.S. rocket launches has risen sharply from about 40 in 2020 to around 180 in 2025, with a steep growth curve—80% of which come from SpaceX. The company currently operates around 9,400 satellites and will complete 154 launches in 2025, making it the absolute powerhouse of U.S. rocket launches. SpaceX has become the world’s largest satellite operator, controlling nearly two-thirds of active satellites. In this expansion, the FCC set a strict deployment timetable for SpaceX: by December 2028, the company must have launched and operated 50% of the authorized second-generation satellites, with the remaining satellites to be completed by December 2031. For the first-generation Starlink satellites, SpaceX must deploy 7,500 satellites by November 2027. The FCC’s approval not only covers the increase in satellite numbers but also key technology upgrades. SpaceX is permitted to operate in five frequency bands and is exempted from previous regulations restricting the overlap of satellite signal coverage, clearing regulatory obstacles for increasing network capacity. The new satellites will provide direct-to-cell satellite network services outside the U.S. and strengthen domestic network coverage. These technological upgrades are expected to deliver internet speeds of up to one gigabit per second, supporting next-generation mobile communication services. ## Europe Strives to Catch Up, Startups Receive Government Support After years of lagging behind due to SpaceX’s low-cost reusable rockets, Europe’s aerospace industry is showing renewed determination to catch up by 2026. Of the record funding approved by the European Space Agency last November, around €900 million is allocated to the “European Launcher Challenge” program, supporting five start-ups: Germany’s Isar Aerospace and Rocket Factory Augsburg, Spain’s PLD Space, France’s MaiaSpace, and the UK’s Orbex. Isar Aerospace, based in Munich’s “Space Valley,” is among Europe’s most advanced challengers. Founded in 2018 by three students from the Technical University of Munich, the company has raised over €500 million and employs more than 400 people. It is building a 40,000-square-meter factory with an annual capacity of over 30 rockets. Isar’s 33-year-old CEO Daniel Metzler said: “Europe is indeed behind, but the only way to close the gap is to build. The real risk isn’t failure, it’s inertia.” Europe’s catch-up efforts are also fueled by geopolitical factors. With growing hostility from the U.S. and Musk towards the EU, and the Russo-Ukrainian war underscoring Starlink’s value on the battlefield, European policymakers have realized the importance of cultivating a more resilient space sector. Germany plans to invest €35 billion to enhance space defense capabilities before 2030, and its military reportedly hopes to have its own satellite constellation. However, Europe still faces enormous challenges. In 2025, only seven orbital launches are expected in Europe, while SpaceX’s Falcon 9 launches on average every two days. The Ariane 6 rocket aims to launch ten times annually by 2027, about twice that of its predecessor, but still lacks reusable technology. ## Canada: Nearly 183 Million CAD Invested Over Three Years Canadian startup Kepler Communications launched ten low Earth orbit satellites this month via SpaceX’s Falcon 9 rocket—a significant milestone in building its optical relay network. According to Bloomberg, each satellite weighs around 300 kg and will be used for Earth observation, defense, and communication services. Over its ten-year history, Kepler has raised $200 million CAD. CEO Mina Mitry stated in an interview that these satellites will operate as “orbital data centers,” capable of storing several terabytes of information and running AI workloads in space. The satellites use laser transmission to elevate space communication from “dial-up speeds” of old technologies to high-speed levels. Kepler’s development benefits from increased government spending on defense and intelligence. In its latest budget, the Canadian government allocated $81.8 billion CAD over five years to boost national defense capabilities and pledged nearly $183 million CAD over three years to improve domestic space launch capability. In December last year, the Canadian Space Agency signed a contract with Kepler for conceptual research on the next-generation Earth observation satellite system. In October 2024, the European Space Agency selected the company to help develop its optical laser network. Mitry said the company will seek new capital to continue expanding its business and plans to launch ten more satellites by 2028. ## Japan Pushes Domestic Starlink Program, Invests 150 Billion Yen According to Japan’s “Sankei Shimbun,” the Japanese government is building a “Japanese version of Starlink” from a national security perspective. Measures have been established to support the use of low Earth orbit satellite constellations to enable domestically controlled communication services. In its FY2025 supplementary budget, the Japanese government listed 150 billion yen (about $960 million USD) to subsidize enterprises that launch satellites and provide communication services. Public solicitation for subsidy applications is expected to launch by late March this year. This move stems from Japan’s concerns about relying on foreign satellite communications. After the Noto Peninsula earthquake in January 2024, Japanese telecom operator KDDI offered Starlink receivers free of charge at shelters, which increased public awareness of Starlink as a disaster communications option. However, Japanese officials have strong concerns, believing that “if things continue as they are, the market will be fully dominated by foreign companies.” Low Earth orbit satellite constellations refer to communication networks composed of dozens to thousands of small satellites working together in orbits 200 to 2,000 kilometers above the Earth, supporting voice calls and data communication for devices like mobile phones. ## India Faces Setbacks, Main Rockets Meet Consecutive Failures India’s ambition to expand its share in global commercial space faces severe technical challenges, with recent launch failures raising doubts about the reliability of its rockets. According to CCTV News, on January 12 (local time), a key launch mission executed by the Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) ended in failure. The Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV) deviated significantly from its intended orbit after liftoff, failing to deliver the military Earth observation satellite designated EOS-N1 and 15 other payloads into their scheduled orbits. This marks the second consecutive failure for this rocket model, previously regarded as India’s “mainstay” in space; the last failure occurred in May 2025, destroying the EOS-09 satellite. This string of setbacks has not only delayed India’s plans to enhance space-based surveillance but also casts a shadow over the country’s fast-growing commercial launch sector. ISRO is trying to leverage its cost advantage to compete directly against industry giants like SpaceX in the global satellite launch market. Despite experiencing headwinds, India continues to demonstrate growth in heavy-lift capabilities. In December 2025, India’s largest heavy rocket, LVM3, successfully conducted a commercial mission, delivering a heavy satellite into orbit and showcasing its potential in high-value launch services. ## China: Accelerating Reusable Technology Updates, Commercial Space Expected to Hit the “Accelerator” On December 3, 2025, Blue Arrow Aerospace’s Future-3 successfully achieved orbital flight. Although the first-stage recovery failed, the core flight control scheme was verified and future iterations are expected. Reusable technology is key to reducing launch costs by an order of magnitude; its breakthrough means the biggest cost barrier to large-scale constellation deployment is being broken. Meanwhile, China’s commercial space enterprises are entering a critical moment in the capital market. Blue Arrow Aerospace’s STAR Market IPO application was accepted by the Shanghai Stock Exchange on December 31, 2025. The company intends to raise 7.5 billion RMB and is likely to become the “first commercial aerospace stock.” In June this year, the China Securities Regulatory Commission officially included commercial aerospace in the fifth set of STAR Market listing standards, allowing non-profitable but core technology enterprises to raise capital on the market. Within only a few months, companies such as Zhongke Yuhang, Tianbing Technology, and Galaxy Dynamics began IPO coaching. According to GF Securities, China recorded about 35 rocket launches in 2020 and about 66 in 2025, a relatively steady growth. If reusable rockets achieve a commercial milestone, China could “hit the accelerator” for deploying low Earth orbit satellites. Earlier, according to Shanghai Securities News, in December 2025 China applied to the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) for frequency and orbital resources for more than 200,000 satellites, with 190,000 coming from the newly formed “national team”—the Radio Innovation Institute. This is the first R&D organization in China’s radio management field dedicated to innovation and transformation of technical achievements, signifying that satellite frequency and orbital resource applications have become a national strategic priority. Risk warning and legal disclaimer The market involves risk, and investments should be made cautiously. This article does not constitute personal investment advice and has not considered individual users’ specific investment goals, financial status, or needs. Users should consider whether any opinions, views, or conclusions in this article suit their own circumstances. Investments made based on this are at your own risk.