China is significantly lagging behind SpaceX in deploying its satellite networks, with less than 1 percent of planned satellites operational due to engineering challenges and a lack of reusable rocket technology. Despite ambitious goals for its megaconstellations, China's progress is hindered by technical setbacks and potential regulatory issues regarding frequency allocations. Experts suggest that while challenges remain, technological breakthroughs could alter the competitive landscape in the near future.

Starlink has announced plans to launch its third-generation satellites, which will offer over a terabit per second of downlink capacity, with a target launch date set for 2026 using SpaceX's Starship. The network currently boasts a capacity of nearly 450 Tbps and median peak-hour latency of 25.7 milliseconds in the US, while the company continues to grow its customer base and satellite count. However, the success of the new satellites depends on overcoming ongoing challenges with the Starship program.