Taiwan Space Agency (TASA) has launched a major initiative to industrialize communications satellite manufacturing, aiming to position Taiwan as a key player in the global low Earth orbit (LEO) satellite ecosystem. The newly announced program, with a budget of NT$2.49 billion (approx. US$81 million), is more than just a satellite procurement plan—it's a strategic investment to cultivate full-scale satellite system integration capabilities within Taiwan's domestic tech industry.
As global geopolitical tensions mount, artificial intelligence (AI) and high-speed communications are rapidly transforming the nature of warfare. The traditional hardware-driven arms race is giving way to a new paradigm—one defined by software-centric systems and integrated multi-domain operations. For Taiwan's ICT sector, this shift opens new strategic opportunities, with firms like Tron Future stepping up to meet growing defense and satellite demands with AI-driven system integration solutions.
As Microsoft intensifies its focus on artificial intelligence, several non-AI-related divisions have faced significant cuts — with the Azure Space satellite initiative reportedly among the latest casualties. While the tech giant confirmed that Azure Space has not been fully discontinued, several of its products have been retired or shifted in scope. The number of employees affected by these changes remains unclear.
Despite foreign exchange headwinds and delayed shipments in the second quarter, Universal Microwave Technology (UMT) is doubling down on the fast-growing low Earth orbit (LEO) satellite market. President Dr. Tungyi Wu said the company's LEO revenue grew 40% year-over-year in the first half of 2025, for the first time accounting for more than half of total sales.
In response to rapid advancements in military technology and an increasingly uncertain global security environment, Japan's Ministry of Defense released two key documents on July 28, 2025: its next-generation information and communications strategy and the Space Domain Defense Guidelines. These initiatives lay out a sweeping vision for cross-branch military modernization centered on next-gen satellite communications and resilient space-based infrastructure.
Riding a wave of surging demand for low-Earth orbit (LEO) satellite communications, Universal Microwave Technology (UMT) posted record revenue in the first half of 2025, showcasing robust growth momentum. The company's consolidated revenue reached NT$1.13 billion (approx. US$37.7 million), marking a historic high for the period. Notably, LEO satellite products accounted for 52.7% of total revenue, underscoring the segment's emergence as the key growth driver.
As Seoul intensifies efforts to build next-generation aerospace technologies, RF Materials, a South Korean firm specializing in compound semiconductor packaging, has been named a core participant in a national R&D program aimed at advancing space-grade semiconductor technology.
