• Chinese satellite achieves 1 Gbps using a 2-watt laser, surpassing Starlink.
• AO-MDR synergy counters atmospheric turbulence for reliable laser communication.
• Promises enhanced internet, GPS, and space mission connectivity worldwide.

Chinese scientists have achieved a groundbreaking milestone in satellite communication, transmitting data at 1 gigabit per second (Gbps) from a geostationary satellite using a mere 2-watt laser. The report says this speed is “five times faster than Starlink,” marking a significant leap in high-altitude data transfer. The satellite, orbiting at 36,705 kilometers over 60 times higher than Starlink’s low-Earth orbit at 550 kilometers, demonstrates unprecedented efficiency with minimal power, comparable to a nightlight.

The publicity and success are centered in a unique technology known as a new AO-MDR synergy technique invented by Professor Wu Jian of Peking University of Posts and Telecommunications and Liu Chao of the Chinese Academy of Sciences. The technique is a composite of Adaptive Optics (AO) to straighten distorted laser light and Mode Diversity Reception (MDR) to receive scattered signal and cluster atmospheric turbulence that atomizes and bends laser beams. Tests carried out at the Lijiang Observatory in southwest China utilized a 1.8-meter telescope fitted with 357 micro-mirrors to receive and decode the signal, increasing signal acquisition to 91.1% of its target, up from 72%.

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This achievement builds on China’s prior laser communication milestones, including a 100 Gbps transmission reported in January 2025 and a 10 Gbps downlink by the Shijian-20 satellite in 2020. The technology promises transformative applications, from high-definition streaming to real-time space mission communications and enhanced GPS systems. Unlike Starlink’s radio-frequency systems, laser communication offers higher bandwidth, potentially rendering traditional methods obsolete.

China’s breakthrough challenges Starlink’s dominance in the satellite internet race, signaling its growing prowess in space technology. As published in Acta Optica Sinica, this innovation could reshape global connectivity, offering faster, more reliable internet, especially in remote regions.