US optical communications giant Lumentum reported stronger-than-expected earnings for the quarter ended September 27, signaling renewed momentum in the sector. Taiwan's optical component suppliers, which also released third-quarter results, showed signs of profit recovery after currency headwinds in the previous quarter, with growth expected to accelerate in 2026 as investment in co-packaged optics (CPO) and silicon photonics applications begins to bear fruit.
As 3GPP integrates Non-Terrestrial Networks (NTN) into global standards, the long-standing walls of incompatible satellite systems are finally coming down. Leo Chien, chairman of Ubiqconn Technology, stated that that this transformation could create critical opportunities for Taiwanese companies familiar with terrestrial devices, especially in the emerging Direct-to-Device (D2D) sector.
Amazon's satellite internet venture, Project Kuiper, could soon make its debut in Taiwan — and the island's two leading telecom operators, Chunghwa Telecom and Far EasTone Telecommunications, are already vying for partnership rights.
With 5G deployment expanding worldwide and 6G research accelerating, the global communications industry is entering a new era defined by speed, intelligence, and ubiquitous connectivity. The rise of low Earth orbit (LEO) satellites, cloud computing, and artificial intelligence is reshaping how the world connects—and Taiwan aims to position itself at the center of that transformation.
Both Japan and South Korea are accelerating plans for Non-Terrestrial Networks (NTN), aiming to expand satellite-based communications beyond traditional ground infrastructure. In the early stages, both nations collaborated with Starlink, but Japan has outpaced South Korea in developing mobile direct-to-satellite services.
In a landmark announcement marking what leaders are calling the beginning of the AI-native wireless era, Nvidia and Nokia have established a strategic partnership to accelerate the development and deployment of next-generation AI-native mobile networks and AI networking infrastructure.

