TASA Aims to Establish Taiwan's Starlink Equivalent through $807 Million Investment in Low-Orbit Satellite Collaboration
30 March 2025 · Uncategorized ·
Source: · https://technews.tw/2025/03/30/tasa-6g-ntn-satellite/
The National Space Organization (TASA), under the Ministry of Science and Technology, has launched a new plan this year. It plans to invest nearly NT$25 billion ($806 million USD) in collaboration with industry partners for developing four low-orbit communication satellites that are expected to be launched as early as 2029. This initiative aims to gradually form Taiwan's 'star network,' similar to SpaceX’s Starlink, and validate satellite-to-satellite optical communications technology.
The Russian-Ukrainian war has brought attention to SpaceX’s “Starlink,” prompting Taiwan to actively negotiate with international satellite operators regarding communication services. TASA is building a self-reliant communication satellite network through government-private cooperation following the B5G low-orbit communications satellites experimental plan initiated before the COVID-19 pandemic.
This year marks the official start of the 'Communication Satellite Manufacturing Industrialization Platform' project by the Ministry of Science and Technology, under which TASA will assist Taiwanese companies that win bids in designing, manufacturing, integrating, and testing satellite systems to create four low-orbit communication satellites. The total budget for research and launch is estimated at NT$249 million.
The Ministry of Economic Affairs also encourages manufacturers through this plan by allocating an additional R&D subsidy amounting to NT$8.9 billion.
According to plans, these four low-orbit communications satellites will be launched as early as 2029, operating in a Low Earth Orbit (LEO) at approximately 600-650 kilometers for five years and serving as an on-orbit validation site for end-to-end communication performance between ground equipment and low orbit satellite terminals.
Compared to the previous plan, these four new satellites will add two major tasks: 'satellite handover' (Hand-Over) technology verification and “inter-satellite optical communications” (Inter-Satellite Optical Communication). The former ensures uninterrupted connectivity by passing on a communication link from one satellite that is leaving its coverage area or unable to maintain the connection. Inter-satellite optical communication uses lasers for data transmission in space vacuum environments directly between satellites without relying heavily on ground stations.
Due to laser light's higher frequency and larger bandwidth, this technology supports greater throughput of data with less likelihood of interception by external forces or interference, making it a key focus area for international satellite projects like Starlink and Amazon Kuiper. The project will adopt an open bidding evaluation method selecting the top four companies to sign contracts.
The fulfillment process consists of two stages: 'satellite system design' followed by “manufacturing and testing satellites,” with each of the two Taiwanese factories producing 2 low-orbit communication satellites. After launch, these four satellites will validate in-orbit functions such as communications payloads and ground equipment connectivity. Those that pass review along with network communication control systems will be handed over to TASA for subsequent operations.
The core objective is training Taiwanese companies while driving domestic LEO satellite supply chains; thus foreign suppliers are not allowed to bid nor Chinese or third-party entities involved due to national security concerns.
Additionally, B5G’s development strategy involves two experimental satellites named 1A and 1B. According to TASA's plan, the first B5G low-orbit communication satellite (Satellite 1A) will be launched in 2027 with a total weight of about 400 kilograms deployed at an altitude around 600 kilometers.
(Writer: Zhang Ai; The main image is only for illustration purposes and comes from pixabay.)
The Russian-Ukrainian war has brought attention to SpaceX’s “Starlink,” prompting Taiwan to actively negotiate with international satellite operators regarding communication services. TASA is building a self-reliant communication satellite network through government-private cooperation following the B5G low-orbit communications satellites experimental plan initiated before the COVID-19 pandemic.
This year marks the official start of the 'Communication Satellite Manufacturing Industrialization Platform' project by the Ministry of Science and Technology, under which TASA will assist Taiwanese companies that win bids in designing, manufacturing, integrating, and testing satellite systems to create four low-orbit communication satellites. The total budget for research and launch is estimated at NT$249 million.
The Ministry of Economic Affairs also encourages manufacturers through this plan by allocating an additional R&D subsidy amounting to NT$8.9 billion.
According to plans, these four low-orbit communications satellites will be launched as early as 2029, operating in a Low Earth Orbit (LEO) at approximately 600-650 kilometers for five years and serving as an on-orbit validation site for end-to-end communication performance between ground equipment and low orbit satellite terminals.
Compared to the previous plan, these four new satellites will add two major tasks: 'satellite handover' (Hand-Over) technology verification and “inter-satellite optical communications” (Inter-Satellite Optical Communication). The former ensures uninterrupted connectivity by passing on a communication link from one satellite that is leaving its coverage area or unable to maintain the connection. Inter-satellite optical communication uses lasers for data transmission in space vacuum environments directly between satellites without relying heavily on ground stations.
Due to laser light's higher frequency and larger bandwidth, this technology supports greater throughput of data with less likelihood of interception by external forces or interference, making it a key focus area for international satellite projects like Starlink and Amazon Kuiper. The project will adopt an open bidding evaluation method selecting the top four companies to sign contracts.
The fulfillment process consists of two stages: 'satellite system design' followed by “manufacturing and testing satellites,” with each of the two Taiwanese factories producing 2 low-orbit communication satellites. After launch, these four satellites will validate in-orbit functions such as communications payloads and ground equipment connectivity. Those that pass review along with network communication control systems will be handed over to TASA for subsequent operations.
The core objective is training Taiwanese companies while driving domestic LEO satellite supply chains; thus foreign suppliers are not allowed to bid nor Chinese or third-party entities involved due to national security concerns.
Additionally, B5G’s development strategy involves two experimental satellites named 1A and 1B. According to TASA's plan, the first B5G low-orbit communication satellite (Satellite 1A) will be launched in 2027 with a total weight of about 400 kilograms deployed at an altitude around 600 kilometers.
(Writer: Zhang Ai; The main image is only for illustration purposes and comes from pixabay.)