The rocket Kuaizhou-1A carrying the satellite JL-1 and two CubeSats XY-S1 and Caton-1 blasts off from Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center in northwest China's Gansu Province, Jan. 9, 2017. (File photo/China News Service)
(ECNS) -- China Aerospace Science and Industry Corporation (CASIC), a major space contractor, is planning to set up a satellite company to create space-based narrowband Internet of things for commercial purposes.
The plan is currently waiting for approval, said Tan Qianhong, Party chief of CASIC Fourth Academy.
The planned company will mainly develop and launch small satellites operating in low orbit and form a satellite network to offer narrowband communication services, Tan added. The network will also improve communication in remote areas and on the seas.
Guo Yong, president of CASIC Fourth Academy, previously said CASIC's self-developed Xingyun Project, a small satellite communication constellation network, can offer services of global acquisition, transportation and sharing via its plentiful low-orbit satellites.
CASIC Fourth Academy began to develop Kuaizhou solid-fuel rockets in 2009, and has launched three -- two Kuaizhou 1 models and one Kuaizhou 1A. It plans to launch four Kuaizhou 1A rockets within one week in 2018, which will set a new world record for launch frequency.
The academy has launched China's first quick control reflector device dedicated to satellites, Guo said. The device can change the direction of laser beams to point towards another satellite and realize space optical communication, it was added.
