Taiwan's homegrown Beyond 5G (B5G) low-Earth orbit (LEO) satellite program is facing setbacks, with communication payload performance falling short of expectations and project timelines delayed. Criticism has mounted, with the Industrial Technology Research Institute (ITRI) at the center of the controversy.
However, insiders argue that these hurdles are an inherent part of R&D, and demonstrate ITRI's willingness to tackle complex challenges, rather than cherry-picking tasks to hit performance targets. In contrast to international norms where space mission failures are common, Taiwan's traditionally high success rates are seen as somewhat out of touch with global realities.
The setback stems from the underperformance of the B5G 1A satellite's communication payload, developed by ITRI, which failed to meet key performance benchmarks. In response, the National Science and Technology Council (NSTC) opted to replace ITRI's payload with off-the-shelf components, while continuing to entrust ITRI with the development of the B5G 1B satellite, slated for a later launch.
The new B5G 1A satellite, sourced externally, aims for a network speed of 15 Gbps and is expected to launch in 2027. This B5G satellite forms part of President Lai Ching-te's "Five Pillars" industrial strategy, positioning it as a critical element of Taiwan's own "Starlink."
Rapidtek, a startup in satellite technology, notes that communication remains the dominant application for satellites, with 1,361 satellite startups expected to launch globally in 2024, many focused on small satellite design and manufacturing. The company, which specializes in CubeSats, works on connecting satellites orbiting 600 kilometers above Earth to ground systems in end-to-end setups.
However, Rapidtek emphasizes the complexities of the satellite industry. Unlike telecom, there are no 3GPP standards for satellites, and operational challenges are considerable. For instance, the company's CubeSat "Nightjar" ran out of power after just one week in space due to battery issues at low temperatures.
While satellites pass over Taiwan 2-4 times a day for brief 3-5 minute windows, they only manage to establish communication once daily. Despite these challenges, the company remains involved in the Taiwan Space Agency (TASA)'s 8U CubeSat program, pushing for continuous technical improvements.
Keysight Technologies highlights the challenge posed by LEO satellites' rapid movement, which causes inevitable frequency shifts and drifts. Ground stations must correct for these to ensure reliable communication. Fortunately, today's technology allows seamless satellite connections without needing to modify mobile phone settings, and satellite-based internet applications are expected to proliferate in the near future.
While ITRI's early struggles with the B5G LEO satellite communications payload have drawn criticism, experts at a recent forum remained tight-lipped on the matter. Insiders, however, noted that satellite deployment scale is a critical factor—Taiwan's B5G project has launched just one satellite for testing, far short of the vast Starlink network.
Despite the setbacks, ITRI's efforts should not be judged too harshly. Although the communications payload missed expectations, R&D failures are often the precursors to eventual success. With sustained government backing, ITRI still has a chance to turn the tide.
The B5G LEO satellite project is funded by the NSTC, with the TASA handling satellite development and system engineering. ITRI is responsible for the autonomous development of the communications payload, ground systems, and spectrum applications. Ubiqconn is collaborating with ITRI on research and development in radio frequency and baseband technologies.
