China will launch a network of 156 mini-satellites to facilitate global broadband coverage¹ as part of the country's effort to give a wider push for commercial space development.

中国拟发射156颗小卫星，以实现宽带全球覆盖，大力推动商业航天事业的发展。

This is the first low orbiting, networked satellite project, which will orbit 1,000 km above the ground, state-owned China Aerospace² Science and Industry Corporation (CASIC) said.

中国航天科工集团公司（简称“航天科工”）表示，这是首个低轨、组网卫星工程，卫星将在距离地面1000公里的轨道上运行。

"The network is a general satellite platform," said Bei Chao, a CASIC engineer.

贝超是航天科工的一名工程师，他解释说：“这是一个通用卫星平台。”

Small satellites are easy to mass produce and upgrade at low cost.

小卫星易于量产，而且更新换代成本低。

Low orbit helps avoid signal delay and satellite communication services with frequencies from 26.5 to 40 hertz improve Internet access.

低轨可以较好地规避信号传播延时，利用频率范围为26.5到40赫兹的波段布局卫星通信业务，则能提高网络接入速率。

The project plans to send the first satellite before 2018, and launch four more by 2020 to form a constellation³.

该项工程计划在2018年之前发射第一颗卫星，在2020年之前再发射4颗卫星，组成一个小“星座”。

By the end of the 14th Five-Year Plan (2021-2025), all 156 satellites will be in operation, state-run Xinhua news agency reported.

据新华社报道，十四五规划（2021年至2025年）结束前，将实现所有156颗卫星组网运行。