China has officially launched a two-year commercial trial of satellite-based Internet of Things (IoT) services to advance the country's efforts to build an integrated space-air-ground network, the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology announced on Saturday. The announcement was made at the China 5G+ Industrial Internet Conference, which runs from Friday to Sunday in Wuhan City, central China's Hubei Province. Satellite IoT is a low-speed data service that uses satellite communication to connect a wide range of IoT devices, from industrial sensors to vehicles and vessels, enabling wide-area coverage in regions beyond the reach of traditional terrestrial networks. While the data rate per transmission is lower than that of mobile internet, the technology offers a vital solution for connectivity in remote or challenging environments such as oceans, mountains, and industrial corridors. The commercial trial will last for two years, aiming to diversify the satellite communication market supply and support the safe and healthy development of emerging industries such as commercial aerospace and the low-altitude economy. "Satellite IoT can provide comprehensive information services for vehicles, ships, drones, oil and gas pipelines, and industrial equipment, paving the way for a wide range of large-scale applications," said Liu Haijiao, deputy director of the Wireless Informatization Research Department of the Institute of Standards and Technology of China Academy of Information and Communications Technology At an exhibition booth, Yao Wenxuan, director of the Solutions Center at Hubei Telecom, demonstrated a terminal capable of linking with the Tiantong satellite. "This is a terminal that establishes a data link with the Tiantong satellite, and it supports a data rate of 9.6KB per second. It enables connectivity in areas that traditional conventional IoT technologies cannot cover, such as over oceans or in deep mountains," he said. The initiative is expected to generate substantial demand for satellite launches, boosting development across the industrial chain, from satellite manufacturing to rocket launch services. "Currently, we can produce 100 to 150 satellites weighing under 500 kilograms per year. Its applications are wide-ranging, including remote sensing, communication, and deep space exploration," said Liu Zhengfeng, deputy general manager of Hunan Satellite Technology Co., Ltd. SHOTLIST: Wuhan City, Hubei Province, central China - Nov 22, 2025 1. Sign reading "Satellite Internet of Things (IoT)"; 2. Screen showing introduction to satellite IoT; 3. Various of satellite models on display; 4. Animations showing satellite providing service for vehicles, cargo ship, airplane, high-speed train; 5. SOUNDBITE (Chinese) Liu Haijiao, deputy director, Wireless Informatization Research Department, Institute of Standards and Technology, China Academy of Information and Communications Technology(starting with shot 4): "Satellite IoT can provide comprehensive information services for vehicles, ships, drones, oil and gas pipelines, and industrial equipment, paving the way for a wide range of large-scale applications."; 6. Satellite IoT equipment on display; 7. Yao Wenxuan, director of Solutions Center of Hubei Telecom, showing device; 8. SOUNDBITE (Chinese) Yao Wenxuan, director, Solutions Center, Hubei Telecom (starting with shot 7/partially overlaid with shot 9): "This is a terminal that establishes a data link with the Tiantong satellite, and it supports a data rate of 9.6KB per second. It enables connectivity in areas that traditional conventional IoT technologies cannot cover, such as over oceans or in deep mountains."; [SHOT OVERLAYING SOUNDBITE] 9. Diagram showing working procedures; [SHOT OVERLAYING SOUNDBITE] FILE: China - Exact Location and Date Unknown 10. Digital lab; 11. Researcher working in lab; 12. Various of equipment working; 13. Rocket ascending; 14. Animations of satellite in space; Wuhan City, Hubei Province, central China - Nov 22, 2025 15. SOUNDBITE (Chinese) Liu Zhengfeng, deputy general manager, Hunan Satellite Technology Co., Ltd. (partially overlaid with 16): "Currently, we can produce 100 to 150 satellites weighing under 500 kilograms per year. Its applications are wide-ranging, including remote sensing, communication, and deep space exploration."; [SHOT OVERLAYING SOUNDBITE] 16. Various of satellite models on display; [SHOT OVERLAYING SOUNDBITE] FILE: China - Exact Location and Date Unknown 17. Animations showing satellite orbiting, monitoring Earth. [Restrictions: No access Chinese mainland]