China's Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT) issued the
information and communications industry's 15th Five‑Year Plan, directing the
construction of an integrated space‑ground network. The plan calls for
coordinated high/medium/low‑orbit satellite constellations, higher capacity for
high‑orbit wide‑ and narrowband communications satellites, and strengthened LEO
internet, high‑orbit communications and satellite‑IoT networking services. It
requires deeper fusion of satellite and terrestrial networks, coordinated
build‑out of satellite‑ground interconnection hubs, and development of
direct‑to‑handset satellite services and satellite‑IoT applications. MIIT
instructs leveraging 5G/5G‑A infrastructure to extend low‑altitude coverage as
needed, exploring 5G air‑to‑ground (5G‑ATG) deployments and expanded route
trials to promote airborne communications, and piloting stratospheric airships
and solar UAVs to improve coverage. The plan also promotes integrated 5G – Beidou development.
