Technical exchange with Shanghai Spacecom Satellite Technology on satellite communication for power systems

Illustration: LEO satellite communication for UAV inspection and transmission line monitoring.

On 8 September 2026, the team met Shanghai Spacecom Satellite Technology to discuss LEO satellite communication for the power sector, focusing on UAV inspections, online transmission line monitoring and connectivity for remote equipment. The discussion linked power-sector communication needs with the Qianfan constellation and satellite terminal capabilities.

The company introduced its LEO network, ground gateways and different user terminals, and how these capabilities can serve industry applications. The participants discussed terminal size, weight, power consumption and communication capacity for fixed equipment and mobile platforms, as well as connection to power-sector networks.

For mountainous inspection routes with obstructions and poor public network coverage, the discussion focused on the feasibility of direct-to-satellite UAV links and the return of images and mission data. For transmission line monitoring, it considered continuous connectivity for dispersed equipment, status data and alarms, and satellite communication as an additional data channel where terrestrial coverage is absent.

The exchange identified concrete questions around inspection communications, line monitoring, terminal integration, real-world link performance and operational network access, informing the team’s research on satellite and power communication integration.