Veon's move into satellite-powered mobile services began during the Russia-Ukraine war, when its Ukrainian unit Kyivstar relied on Starlink's orbital network to restore connectivity after Russian attacks damaged cellular infrastructure.
Japanese industrial machinery maker IHI Corp. has signed a satellite procurement agreement with Finnish synthetic aperture radar (SAR) satellite operator ICEYE, marking the launch of a joint satellite constellation program aimed at strengthening Japan's national security and expanding into commercial and public markets. The companies plan to begin acquiring satellite data in fiscal year 2026 (April 2026-March 2027).
As the global deployment of low-Earth orbit (LEO) satellites accelerates, the Asia-Pacific region has become a strategic frontier for satellite operators. Rising demand driven by economic growth, geopolitical complexity, and the need for disaster resilience has turned the region into a coveted market. Yet, regulatory fragmentation across countries has slowed commercial rollout compared with the United States and Europe. That is now changing, as several governments move to open their skies to LEO operators, triggering a new wave of deployments.
As low-Earth-orbit (LEO) satellite networks move from development into full commercial deployment, major operators are racing to expand and secure their global supply chains. Among them, Eutelsat OneWeb is deepening its footprint in Taiwan, now treating the island as an essential pillar of its worldwide ecosystem.
