Insider Brief
- Chunghwa Telecom has partnered with U.S. satellite firm Astranis to launch Taiwan’s first dedicated communications satellite, aiming to strengthen the island’s digital infrastructure and resilience.
- The microGEO satellite, scheduled for launch by year-end, will provide high-performance, rapidly deployable bandwidth to serve as a backup for natural disasters and undersea cable disruptions.
- This agreement supports Chunghwa Telecom’s NTN strategy and complements its existing multi-orbit architecture, reinforcing Taiwan’s real-time communications continuity amid growing global uncertainties.
The first communications satellite dedicated exclusively to Taiwan is coming under a new partnership between Chunghwa Telecom and U.S.-based satellite firm Astranis.
The deal, announced in a joint press release this week, will bring a so-called MicroGEO satellite to orbit by the end of this year, with full operational capacity expected in 2025. The satellite will serve as a dedicated communications link for Taiwan, designed to provide a secure and stable backup for the island’s digital infrastructure in the event of natural disasters or cable outages.
The move comes amid rising concerns about the vulnerability of undersea cables and the broader reliability of global communications networks. Taiwan experienced three domestic and one international incidents of submarine cable disruptions between January and February 2025. Two of those were attributed to natural deterioration while two were blamed on Chinese ships, prompting claims of sabotage, according to Washington D.C.-based think tank Global Tawain Institute.
“Chunghwa Telecom, as Taiwan’s leading, most valuable, and most trusted ICT service provider, has actively expanded its satellite initiatives in recent years,” Dr. Alex C.C Chien, Chairman of Chunghwa Telecom, noted in the statement. “Astranis’s MicroGEO solution introduces vital flexibility and resilience to our satellite strategy. This collaboration enables us to build a dedicated, secure digital infrastructure for Taiwan—one that can serve as a critical real-time backup against natural disasters, submarine cable disruptions, and evolving global uncertainties.”
Astranis specializes in compact, cost-effective communication satellites that operate in geostationary orbit. Unlike larger satellites that take years to build and launch, these smaller MicroGEO models are designed to be deployed more quickly and at lower cost, while still offering high bandwidth and reliability.
“Our founding vision nearly a decade ago was to provide dedicated satellite capacity where it is most needed, ensuring secure and independent communications,” said Astranis CEO John Gedmark commented. “We are honored to partner with Chunghwa Telecom to enhance the resilience of Taiwan’s critical communications infrastructure.”
This new satellite will become part of Chunghwa Telecom’s broader “Sky, Land, Sea, and Air” network strategy, which integrates multiple types of satellite systems and terrestrial networks. Chunghwa already works with satellites in high, medium, and low Earth orbit, including the ST-2 GEO satellite, OneWeb’s low-orbit satellite constellation, and SES’s MEO system. The addition of a dedicated MicroGEO satellite is intended to fill a strategic gap in that architecture.
In recent years, satellite communications have become more important as backup infrastructure for countries that rely heavily on fiber-optic cables and terrestrial networks. Undersea cables carry more than 95% of international data traffic, but they are susceptible to disruption from earthquakes, accidents, or sabotage. Satellite links provide an alternative that, while slower and more expensive, can maintain essential services during emergencies.
The agreement also reflects a broader trend of national investment in space-based infrastructure. As geopolitical risks increase, governments and companies alike are seeking more control over their communications systems.
Chunghwa Telecom, Taiwan’s largest telecom provider, has been pushing to expand its satellite capabilities in recent years as part of its Non-Terrestrial Network (NTN) initiative. The company says it aims to offer seamless service that integrates ground-based and satellite-based communications for both civilian and government use.
Astranis, based in San Francisco, has gained attention for its approach to making space-based internet more accessible and regionally focused. Rather than building massive global networks, the company focuses on smaller, dedicated satellites tailored to specific regions or countries.
For Taiwan, the launch represents a significant step toward communications independence. While it still relies heavily on global infrastructure, having a dedicated satellite in geostationary orbit gives it greater control and faster response capabilities during crises.
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