China has achieved a milestone by using its domestically developed GW satellite constellation to provide reliable communications for its Arctic research expedition. The system allowed video calls between the ice‑bound research vessel Xuelong, the Qinling research station in Antarctica, and a medical team in Qingdao, as well as data exchanges with a test station on the Lhasa River and the North China Sea Bureau. The GW constellation, launched in December 2024, is China’s first state‑backed low‑orbit satellite internet project. It plans to deploy almost 13,000 satellites by 2035, operating below 2,000 kilometres to deliver broadband services to regions beyond terrestrial networks. During the expedition, more than 300 files totalling over 100 gigabytes were transmitted, and more than 40 video conferences were held. Connectivity remained stable in severe Arctic conditions, including extreme cold, high altitude, strong winds, blowing sand and ice fog. Video‑call latency was reported to be under one second, and peak one‑way speeds reached roughly 30 megabits per second, enabling a 1 GB file to download in about ten minutes. The first breakthrough occurred on August 3 when Xuelong completed a video call with Qinling Station, marking the highest‑latitude communication ever achieved with a domestic Chinese satellite system. Subsequent calls included Mid‑Autumn Festival greetings on September 25 and a remote medical consultation that helped a crew member in the Arctic. According to expedition tester Zhang Meng, the tests reduce the "information isolation" that polar missions have traditionally faced and provide practical experience for fully domestic communication support. Earlier polar missions relied largely on foreign services such as Iridium and Inmarsat, making this development a significant step toward self‑sufficiency in polar communications. #China #Satellite #Arctic #GWConstellation #PolarResearch #TechInnovation Fuente: Sixth Tone
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