Resist China's threat of cable cutting! Chunghwa Telecom cooperates with Astranis and SpaceX to develop Taiwan communications satellite, to be launched by the end of 2025

Chunghwa Telecom announced on 4/15 a collaboration with the US satellite startup Astranis, investing 1.15 million dollars to build Taiwan's first dedicated communication satellite, expected to be launched by the end of 2025 and fully operational in 2026. It will also serve as an instant backup communication system against natural disasters, submarine cable interruptions, or geopolitical risks.

Collaboration Highlights: Taiwan's Dedicated MicroGEO Satellite

• Satellite Type: Small Geostationary Orbit Satellite (MicroGEO), featuring rapid deployment, high performance, and reliability.

• Investment Amount: 115 million US dollars.

• Launch Schedule: Expected to be launched by SpaceX's Falcon 9 rocket by the end of 2025, providing full bandwidth service in early 2026.

• Mission Objectives: Provide backup communication capabilities for Taiwan's main island, outlying islands, maritime areas, and government agencies, enhancing national communication resilience.

Why Choose Astranis

Astranis focuses on building small, high-performance geostationary orbit satellites, and MicroGEO satellites are characterized by rapid deployment and high cost-effectiveness, suitable for regional market needs.

This collaboration with Chunghwa Telecom is the largest commercial contract Astranis has signed so far, demonstrating its technological capabilities and market credibility.

Background Context: Submarine Cable Interruption and Communication Backup Needs

Taiwan has recently experienced multiple incidents of submarine cables being potentially damaged by Chinese vessels, causing communication interruptions in outlying islands and raising domestic attention to communication backup systems.

Additionally, Taiwan's original low-orbit satellite collaboration with the UK's OneWeb was limited due to insufficient bandwidth and financial issues.

This collaboration with Astranis can supplement the communication capabilities of high-orbit satellites, forming a multi-orbit communication network with existing medium-orbit (SES) and low-orbit (OneWeb) systems.

Future Outlook: Building a Complete Space Communication Defense Line

Taiwan is actively promoting space industry development, planning to launch two communication satellites by 2026 and establish a domestic rocket launch site within five years.

Furthermore, Taiwan is discussing cooperation with Amazon's Kuiper project, seeking more low-orbit satellite communication resources to gradually establish a multi-layered communication backup system.