Tron Future Tech, a Taiwanese startup founded in 2018, has emerged to be a prominent leader in Taiwan's low Earth orbit (LEO) satellite and Counter-Unmanned Aircraft Systems (C-UAS) markets. At the core of the success is the company's independently developed Active Phased Array (AESA) radar technology. Recently, Tron Future announced that it has secured NT$900 million (approx. US$32.4 million) in a Series A funding round led by the government-backed Taiwania Capital and the CID Group, and joined by Industrial Technology Investment Corp. (ITRI's venture capital), Taya Venture, and Taiwan Cooperative Venture Capital.
Taiwan's recent efforts to build its own "Starlink" have received growing attention as satellite communication has proven itself inalienable to wartime resilience, but to what degree are the ongoing government-backed satellite programs geared for modern warfare?
A space industry veteran is spearheading Taiwan's homegrown rocket and satellite ambitions, navigating a complex web of geopolitics and technical challenges.
Taiwan's entry into space exploration reached a historic milestone with the successful deployment of Triton, its first domestically developed meteorological satellite, in 2023. This achievement signifies Taiwan's technological prowess and paves the way for groundbreaking advancements in meteorological forecasting capabilities.
In a landmark move shaking the satellite communications market, SES, the Luxembourg medium-Earth orbit (MEO) satellite operator, and Intelsat, the Geosynchronous Orbit (GSO) satellite operator, have announced their merger. SES is set to acquire Intelsat in a staggering US$3.1 billion deal, marking the third major consolidation in the satellite industry following Viasat's acquisition of UK-based Inmarsat Group Holdings and Eutelsat's merger with OneWeb.
Ubiqconn Technology is strategically positioning itself to capitalize on the burgeoning prospects of Low-Earth Orbit (LEO) satellite development in Southeast Asia. The company underscores the region's plethora of islands, sparse rural population density, and rapid economic progress as key factors fueling the immense potential for LEO satellite ventures.
With the rapid development of intelligent connected vehicles, cars have gradually become important mobile terminals, carrying an increasing number of interconnection needs based on travel requirements. Cars are evolving into another important mobile terminal.
In the ever-evolving realm of mobile communications, a seismic shift is underway, propelled by SpaceX's Starlink service. Once dominated by terrestrial networks provided by telecom giants, the industry is now witnessing a paradigmatic transformation as satellite operators and telecom titans navigate a landscape marked by collaboration and competition.
As the Low Earth Orbit (LEO) satellite industry gains traction, Taiwanese suppliers are positioned for success, buoyed by the continued launches from SpaceX and the entry of Amazon's Project Kuiper. With Universal Microwave Technology (UMT) eyeing a potential revenue surge and FIC Global's subsidiary, Ubiqconn, expressing optimism, Taiwan's satellite component manufacturers are poised to capitalize on this burgeoning sector.
Transcom, a Power Amplifier (PA) manufacturer primarily focused on the defense industry, has seen steady growth in its overall operations, benefiting from defense contracts and increasing shipments of microwave communication products. It also has prospects to penetrate the aerospace and commercial satellite communication product markets in the United States and Japan.
EISO, the PCB factory, participated in the Satellite 2024 Conference & Exhibition held in Washington DC, USA for the first time, marking the company's entry into Low-Earth Orbit (LEO) satellite applications. This shows EISO's shift of focus to a high-end application of PCB technology, aside from their continuing efforts on domestic and international markets for electric-assisted bicycles (e-bikes).
Smart wearable and GPS giant Garmin has decided to expand its production into Southeast Asia as part of its long-term strategy for the next 10-20 years, with initial production lines in Thailand to focus on automotive navigation OEM products.
China's relentless push into space technology is setting the stage for a high-stakes competition with the United States. As the space race heats up, China's rapid advancements in low-Earth orbit (LEO) satellite technology are increasingly putting pressure on America's long-held supremacy.
Amid economic uncertainty, China still saw a surge of "unicorns" in 2023, particularly in sectors such as AI, semiconductors, aerospace, and new energy vehicles.
In the wake of SpaceX's groundbreaking success with Starlink, China is gearing up to launch its own rendition of the satellite constellation, leveraging its formidable aerospace prowess and technological might.
The automotive sector is now projected to see negative growth in 2024, with rumblings in the supply chain ever since the beginning of the year, and TSMC lowering its expectations at its recent earnings call.
Ubiqconn Technology, a subsidiary of First International Computer (FIC), is eyeing robust growth in 2024, buoyed by its satellite and industrial brand divisions.
When a powerful earthquake struck Hualien in eastern Taiwan on April 3, the island nation turned to an unconventional ally: low-Earth orbit(LEO) satellites.
In the fast-evolving landscape of technologies like communications, autonomous driving, Artificial Intelligence (AI), and robotics, Samsung Electronics is ramping up its focus on precision "location" technologies. This move underscores the increasing importance of accurate location data in our hyper-connected world.
In the wake of a recent seismic event in Taiwan's eastern region, the Ministry of Digital Affairs (MODA) has forged an unprecedented alliance with Chunghwa Telecom. To leverage low-Earth orbit (LEO) satellites for urgent communication needs, marking a significant milestone in Taiwan's disaster response capabilities.
The Pentagon revealed that its contract to deploy Elon Musk's Starlink terminals in Ukraine is worth $23 million, finally putting a dollar figure on a deal that has embroiled one of the world's richest men in the Russia conflict — sometimes to his own chagrin.
SpaceX's satellite communication service, Starlink, has embarked on an ambitious expansion journey, with a keen focus on penetrating the lucrative Southeast Asian market. The service has already established a footprint in nations such as the Philippines and Malaysia and now sets its sights on Indonesia.
In a dramatic display of preparedness, Taiwan swiftly responded to a powerful earthquake that rattled Hualien, east Taiwan, on April 3rd, showcasing the efficacy of its digital resilience strategy. The global spotlight turned to Taiwan's strategic investments in satellite communications infrastructure, particularly in partnerships with industry leaders like SES and OneWeb, as the island nation navigated the aftermath of the seismic event.
In response to a surging demand for low-Earth orbit (LEO) satellite services, satellite operators traditionally focused on geosynchronous orbit (GSO) or medium-Earth orbit (MEO) satellites are making a strategic shift towards the burgeoning LEO business landscape. No longer confined to singular investments in proprietary satellite constellations, operators are now forging collaborative alliances and embracing business integration to capitalize on the multi-orbit integration trend sweeping the satellite industry.