Qianfan Constellation, often referred to as China's version of Starlink, has announced its plans to deploy 13,904 low-Earth orbit (LEO) satellites by 2030. The project, while ambitious, faces significant challenges, including limited launch site availability, high costs of single-use rockets, and doubts about the survivability and durability of its LEO satellites.
The China Academy of Launch Vehicle Technology successfully launched the Smart Dragon-3 (Jielong-3) rocket on January 13, 2025, near Haiyang in Shandong province, deploying 10 CentiSpace-01 satellites into orbit. These satellites will form part of a low-orbit constellation planned to include 240 satellites, with 120 scheduled for deployment by the end of 2026.
The Taiwan Space Agency (TASA) achieved a milestone on January 15, 2025, when its self-developed CubeSat, PARUS-T1, successfully entered a 515-kilometer low-Earth orbit (LEO) aboard a SpaceX rocket in the US. The satellite established a connection with TASA's ground station, marking its first successful space entry after the unsuccessful PARUS-T1A launch attempt in Japan.
Taiwan's National Science and Technology Council (NSTC) held its 13th committee meeting on January 14, 2025, approving a government technology budget request of NT$180 billion (US$5.44 billion) for 2026. The council emphasized that future developments in science parks must balance industrial growth with local prosperity to drive overall development in surrounding areas. Additionally, the NSTC's Beyond 5G satellite program is being scaled back due to execution difficulties faced by the Industrial Technology Research Institute (ITRI).
Universal Microwave Technology (UMT) achieved a record revenue of NT$231 million (US$7.05 million) in December 2024, marking a 56 percent increase compared to the same period in 2023. The company maintained strong performance despite the typical seasonal slowdown during year-end holidays in the US, securing its third consecutive month of record revenue.
John Dennis, Representative at the British Office in Taipei, will conclude his tenure in February 2025 after serving since December 2020. During his farewell address, Dennis highlighted the strengthening of trade and technological partnerships between the UK and Taiwan as the hallmark of his time in office.
Transcom, a provider of military-grade power amplifiers (PA), has disclosed that its revenue for 2024 reached an all-time high. The company's strong sales performance last year was primarily driven by government contracts, satellite communication-related products, and an increase in military drone shipments.
Taiwan is gearing up for next-generation 6G research and development, with the National Science Council (NSC) prioritizing three sectors in the IMT-2030 framework.
A Chinese-owned freighter registered in Cameroon has drawn scrutiny for severing an undersea cable off the coast of northern Taiwan near Keelung Harbor. This latest disruption underscores the growing vulnerabilities in Taiwan's critical infrastructure as tensions with China continue to escalate.
Taiwan has implemented comprehensive regulations to prevent the transfer of sensitive technologies, including advanced chips, to mainland China, reinforcing national security and economic interests.
Mitsubishi Electric has unveiled the sixth satellite in Japan's Quasi-Zenith Satellite System (QZSS) at its Kamakura Works facility. Scheduled for launch by the H3 rocket by the end of March 2025, the satellite features a groundbreaking "high-precision positioning system." This technology promises to enhance the positioning accuracy of smartphones to within one meter without requiring hardware modifications.
Taiwan-based tier-1 high-density interconnect (HDI) board maker Compeq Manufacturing has opened its first production base in Southeast Asia located in Thailand. The facility will initially focus on producing printed circuit boards (PCB) for low-earth orbit (LEO) satellites with mass production set to begin in the first quarter of 2025.
The European Union is committing to build a EUR10.6 billion (approx. US$11.13 billion) constellation of satellites that will provide the bloc with encrypted global internet connectivity in a bid to provide a homegrown alternative to Elon Musk's Starlink.
Taiwan-based HDI board manufacturer Compeq experienced robust revenue performance in November, driven by the heightened demand for tablets and notebooks, steady shipments of low Earth orbit (LEO) satellites, and substantial orders for new models from Chinese mobile phone manufacturers.
Microwave and millimeter-wave component manufacturer Universal Microwave Technology (UMT) has experienced a sharp surge in demand for low-orbit satellite components, driving a record-high 46.4 percent year-over-year revenue increase for the first 11 months of 2024. Chairperson Shu-Min Chen forecasts a similar growth trajectory for 2025, with 2026 looking equally promising. She disclosed that customer orders are arriving at a breakneck pace.
Smartphone shipments underperformed in the second half of 2024, particularly with Android momentum in China slowing compared with the first half of the year. As a result, Taiwanese power amplifier (PA) supply chain players have experienced weak performance in the past two quarters, pushing related players to focus on developing low-Earth orbit (LEO) satellite products.
Eutelsat OneWeb has unveiled plans for a significant upgrade to its satellite constellation from 2026, as the company continues to expand its network deployment across Taiwan in partnership with Chunghwa Telecom.
Space technology leaders and researchers gathered at TASTI 2024 to discuss how the convergence of AIoT, and satellite networks is reshaping industries from automotive to wildlife conservation while grappling with challenges of security and spectrum allocation.
Leading power supply maker Phihong Technology held its quarterly earnings call on December 5, during which general manager Allan Lin noted that the company has begun low-volume shipments of power supplies for low Earth orbit (LEO) satellite applications in recent months, with plans to gradually ramp up production in the first half of 2025. Meanwhile, the company is continuing its transition toward high-wattage products, with growth anticipated particularly in the network communications and industrial control markets.
Taiwan's self-developed Triton satellite entered orbit on October 9, 2023, launched aboard Arianespace's VEGA rocket from French Guiana. Despite logistical and health challenges posed by the site, National Science and Technology Council Minister Cheng-Wen Wu confirmed that future launches will shift to the US for cost efficiency. SpaceX's Falcon rocket will deploy the Formosat-8 constellation in late 2025.
In a windowless testing room deep in the French countryside, engineers from Taiwan's Auden Techno toiled for days to fine-tune antennas capable of linking to the swarms of low-Earth orbit (LEO) satellites being launched into space.
Development of drones and low-Earth orbit (LEO) satellites in Taiwan has been hindered by a lack of domestically developed chips, according to industry sources.
BAE Systems is advancing its position in the commercial space sector through a series of strategic partnerships in Asia-Pacific, marking a significant shift from its traditional defense focus as it seeks to capitalize on the growing regional demand for space capabilities.
The satellite imaging industry is undergoing a fundamental shift from traditional observation to real-time planetary monitoring, driven by advances in edge computing and AI, according to Planet Labs Co-Founder and Chief Strategy Officer Dr. Robbie Schingler.
The 2024 Taiwan International Assembly of Space Science, Technology, and Industry (TASTI 2024), held from November 30 to December 4 at the Kaohsiung Exhibition Center, witnessed the inaugural participation of a British delegation, which established a "National Pavilion," drawing significant attention from industry stakeholders.
