Taipei: Taiwan-based telecom service provider Chunghwa Telecom Co. recently signed a strategic agreement with Astranis Space Technologies Corp., an American satellite start-up, to develop the first dedicated compact geostationary orbit (MicroGEO) satellite for Taiwan.
According to Focus Taiwan, Chunghwa Telecom announced that the MicroGEO satellite is expected to significantly expand satellite capacity over Taiwan with features such as rapid deployment, high performance, and exceptional reliability. The satellite is scheduled to be launched at the end of 2025, with full bandwidth services available as early as next year, marking the first communications satellite ever exclusively dedicated to Taiwan.
Chunghwa Telecom highlighted that Astranis specializes in agile, flexible, and MicroGEO satellite development. This strategic partnership will complement the Taiwanese telecom firm's multi-orbit satellite architecture, which includes in-orbit ST-2 GEO, OneWeb's low earth orbit (LEO), and Luxembourg satellite telecommunications company SES's medium earth orbit (MEO) satellites.
The cooperation with Astranis is expected to enhance Taiwan's resilient "Sky, Land, Sea, and Air" network and advance its Non-Terrestrial Network (NTN) strategy. As a leading ICT service provider in Taiwan, Chunghwa Telecom has actively expanded its satellite initiatives in recent years, according to company chairman Alex C.C Chien.
Chien stated that Astranis's MicroGEO solution introduces vital flexibility and resilience to the company's satellite strategy. This collaboration will enable the building of a dedicated, secure digital infrastructure for Taiwan, serving as a critical real-time backup against natural disasters, submarine cable disruptions, and evolving global uncertainties.
Astranis CEO John Gedmark responded by highlighting the company's founding vision to provide dedicated satellite capacity where it is most needed to ensure secure and independent communications. With Chunghwa Telecom committed to building a globally connected, always-on digital resilience network, Gedmark expressed honor in partnering with Chunghwa Telecom to enhance the resilience of Taiwan's critical communications infrastructure.