Satellite communications in Taiwan are running low on time, according to the country's space chief's statement to AFP.
Taiwan Steps Up Satellite Development for Resilience
Taiwan is embarking on an ambitious plan to develop its own rockets and launch site within the next decade, as it seeks to ensure resilience and independence in communication during potential conflicts. The island nation currently has no Low Earth Orbit (LEO) satellites, but it aims to change this by launching more than 20 meteorological and optical remote sensing satellites by around 2031.
Taiwan requires 150 LEO satellites for basic communication resilience. To achieve this, it is partnering with various companies, including Eutelsat, the world's second-largest operator of LEO satellites. Taiwan has signed a multi-million dollar deal with Eutelsat, and is also partnering with US company Astranis, SES of Luxembourg, and is in talks with Amazon's Kuiper and Canada's Telesat for additional satellite providers.
Besides Eutelsat, Taiwan partners with companies like Satlink and AERKOMM for the development and distribution of communications satellite technology within LEO satellite programs. Satlink, which has a presence in Taiwan, and AERKOMM, engaged in the Asia-Pacific SATCOM market, are expected to contribute significantly to Taiwan's satellite communications ecosystem. Firms such as Intellian are also involved in satellite communication solutions, which may further bolster Taiwan's satellite communications capabilities.
The need for a robust satellite industry in Taiwan is underscored by the fact that it currently has seven meteorological satellites and one optical remote sensing satellite in orbit. However, these satellites are not sufficient for communication resilience, especially in the face of potential conflicts.
Taiwan Space Agency Director General Wu has emphasised the need to speed up the development of Taiwan's own technology. A Taiwanese expert, Cathy Fang, believes it would be 'dangerous' for Taiwan to rely only on foreign satellite operators for phone and internet signals during a war. In this regard, Taiwanese telecoms giant Chunghwa Telecom is securing backup telecommunications from satellite companies worldwide.
The development of Taiwan's LEO satellite programme is a crucial step towards ensuring communication resilience. Taiwan plans to launch the first of six LEO satellites in 2027 as part of its Beyond 5G LEO Satellite programme. This launch is scheduled to take place from the Vandenberg Space Force Base in California on a SpaceX rocket.
The importance of LEO satellites for continuous communication coverage has been highlighted by astrophysicist and cosmologist Brad Tucker. He states that a large number of satellites in low Earth orbit is required to maintain continuous coverage. This is evidenced by Starlink, dominated by Elon Musk's SpaceX, which has 8,000 satellites in orbit. Starlink has been a vital communications tool for Ukrainian forces fighting Moscow's troops, as admitted by Elon Musk.
Starlink works because they are de-orbiting their satellites every three years and putting up a new one. This approach ensures that the satellite constellation remains up-to-date and operational.
The need for a robust satellite industry in Taiwan has been highlighted by recent events. In February 2023, telecoms lines serving Taiwan's Matsu archipelago were severed, disrupting communications for weeks. US officials have previously cited 2027 as a possible timeline for a Chinese invasion of Taiwan. In such a scenario, Taiwan's own LEO satellite programme could prove to be a crucial asset in maintaining communication resilience.
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