The key facts

  • Chinese-developed satellite internet has for the first time linked the Arctic, the Antarctic and the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau
  • The icebreaker Jidi conducted a pre-operational test of the system on Arctic routes
  • The expedition claimed the closure of the last gap in global connectivity

First connection of the three polar regions

China's domestically developed satellite internet system has for the first time provided connectivity in the Arctic, the Antarctic and the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau, state media reported on Monday, October 19, 2026. The Xinhua news agency reported this, citing China's 16th Arctic expedition.

Test aboard the icebreaker Jidi

According to the expedition, the polar icebreaker Jidi completed a pre-operational test of the satellite internet system along Arctic shipping routes. During the voyage, the crew for the first time tested network connectivity simultaneously in the Arctic, the Antarctic and the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau, which is called the Earth's 'Third Pole'.

Claim of closing the connectivity gap

The expedition stated that the test closed the world's last gap in connectivity coverage. The expedition was organized by China's Ministry of Natural Resources.