China Mobile's next satellite will process cell signals directly in orbit

China Mobile is about to launch a satellite with a built-in cell tower.

The 03 experimental satellite, set for liftoff in the coming days, carries an onboard base station capable of processing signals directly in orbit. That puts it ahead of the 02 satellite launched on June 9, which could only relay signals. The 03 satellite can decode and retransmit them instead — what the industry calls “regeneration mode” — giving it more control over how it handles traffic.

The satellite will also test IoT connectivity from orbit, merging broadband and narrowband IoT into a single payload. That means the same satellite could handle everything from video calls to sensor data from remote equipment.

The 02 satellite, developed by GalaxySpace, launched three weeks ago and has been running tests on direct-to-handset links and space-terrestrial network integration. China Mobile received a satellite mobile communication license from the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology in September 2025, becoming the last of the country’s three major carriers to enter the direct-to-phone satellite business. The licenses let operators offer emergency communications, maritime connectivity, and coverage for remote areas where terrestrial towers don’t reach.