From Blue Origin to Project Kuiper and the seamless integration with AWS, Jeff Bezos' space ambitions are no longer just dreams; they're manifesting into reality with each satellite launch, connecting a network of services.

According to sources at IC distributors, telecom operators in China are postponing the commencement of their bidding processes and slowing the expansion of their infrastructure build-ups due to poor domestic demand, which may not rebound until the first half of 2024.

There's a growing awareness of space as a strategic domain. In July 2023, China marked a significant milestone with the successful launch of a satellite technology test satellite, smoothly entering its predetermined low orbit. This achievement signals advancements in China's low Earth orbit(LEO) satellite capabilities and the broader landscape of 6G communication, as well as being perceived as a strategic move in response to SpaceX's LEO satellite service.

Taiwan's space ambitions have risen significantly over the past few years. Capitalizing on its advantage in the ICT industry, Taiwan is well-positioned to make a significant leap forward, particularly in strengthening international partnerships within its space program.

Chunghwa Telecom recently hosted the '2023 5G Innovation Application Competition and 5G Accelerator Selection,' aimed at fostering inventive potential in 5G applications and expediting the realization of business opportunities.

Eutelsat OneWeb has obtained the required approval to run commercial satellite broadband services in India, as its competitors, such as Reliance Jio, StarLink, and Amazon, are looking to enter the South Asian country.

French tech conglomerate Thales and its key partner MiTAC Information Technology Corporation in Taiwan announced that they will collaborate on a project to design and implement an upgraded Automatic Fare Collection (AFC) system for the Taipei Metro Network and retrofit the existing AFC equipment.

Market research firm Canalys recently published a research report showing that the US smartphone market shrank another 5% year-on-year in the third quarter of 2023, but shipments grew 21% quarter-on-quarter to 31 million units, driven by Apple's latest iPhone release and carrier promotions targeting premium device upgrades.

Taiwan-based Grand-Tek Technology, specializing in outdoor antennas, RF cable assembly, and subsystems, faced a revenue decline in 2023 due to global political instability, inflation, and customer inventory corrections. Despite these challenges, the company maintains a positive outlook on market growth potential and is actively investing in product certification, testing platforms, and laboratory upgrades to solidify its foundation for future growth.

As 5G penetration rates globally slow down, telecom operators are actively exploring new avenues for revenue and strategic adjustments. Particularly in Taiwan, where mobile network quality is exceptional while prices are relatively affordable, the emphasis on differentiated networks has become a pivotal aspect of evolving business strategies.

India is looking to introduce direct-to-mobile (D2M) technology into handsets to reduce users' reliance on cellular networks, which has aroused opposition from telecom operators, chipset makers, and smartphone vendors.

Ranictek, an IC design startup founded in 2022, aims to solve the pain point of 5G deployment through innovations in Massive Multi-Input Multi-Output (MIMO) technology. Based in Taiwan, Ranictek believes that the lack of cost-effective baseband chip solutions is a key reason behind the current slow pace of 5G penetration based on Open Radio Access Network (O-RAN).

As nations continue the widespread deployment of their 5G communication infrastructure, there is a sustained increase in demand for Gallium Nitride (GaN) communication components and modules. Stakeholders in the GaN communication component supply chain are optimistic about market prospects, with collaborations between Taiwanese and Dutch companies and research institutions propelling the development of the GaN communication supply chain.

To enhance the resilience of Taiwan's communication networks, the Ministry of Digital Affairs (MODA) entered into a subsidy agreement with the Telecommunication Technology Center (TTC) in July 2023 for the "Enhancing Digital Resilience Verification Project for Communication Networks in Emergency or Wartime Application of Emerging Technologies." As the year progresses, the first wave of test sites, including confirmed participants like Luxembourg's SES and the UK's OneWeb, is set to go live.

In a dynamic and evolving satellite industry, Telesat is gearing up for significant changes and a strategic shift towards Low Earth Orbit (LEO) satellites. This move comes as traditional geostationary (GEO) satellite services face substantial challenges and shrinking markets, primarily driven by the rise of streaming and latency-sensitive applications.

In 2023, Lung Hwa Electronics, under the Ministry of Digital Affairs (MODA), received approval for its self-built satellite platform, utilizing Eutelsat's geosynchronous orbit (GEO) satellites to offer broadband communication services for fishing and commercial ships. Additionally, Aerkomm secured a commercial satellite license for O3b medium Earth orbit satellites. Recent confirmation from MODA officials reveals that Chunghwa Telecom has submitted an application for review, intending to collaborate with OneWeb as an agent in the future.

Ericsson's R&D center in Guangzhou has undergone significant personnel adjustment, according to employees at the center. The whole 5G R&D team was laid off, and only marketing and technical support crews remain. The center halted external recruitment after the news was leaked.

RF and testing company Auden Techno Corp. stated that its consumer antenna products continue to exhibit strong growth momentum. The 15G millimeter wave antenna module provided to US telecom companies has passed trials and new case development is underway with customers.

Network communication equipment manufacturers are upbeat about 2024. Taiwanese wireless broadband network firm Arcadyan expects that revenue in the fourth quarter this year can continue to mark new highs. Taiwanese network switch maker Accton Technology is rolling out new products and cooling solutions for the upcoming market rebound.

Transcom Inc., Taiwan's only compound semiconductor IDM and a manufacturer of power amplifier monolithic microwave integrated circuit (PA MMIC), released its October sales figures on November 3. The company reported NT$116 million (US$3.6 million) in revenue, marking a sequential increase of 7.75% and a year-on-year increase of 23.75%, setting a record high for October sales.

Taiwan-based communication networking company Alpha Networks anticipates wireless broadband networking products and digital multimedia products to be the driving force of fourth-quarter sales growth and has decided to focus on Vietnam for further expansion in production capacities, said Matthew Chung, spokesman and head of investor relations of the company.

Reducing carbon emissions has become an imperative for businesses, whether through adopting renewable energy sources for power or prioritizing energy-efficient practices within their operations. Research from Lancaster University in the United Kingdom indicates that if carbon emissions from the ICT industry remain at 2020 levels and global emissions continue to decline in line with the Paris Agreement, the ICT sector's share of global carbon emissions will steadily increase. By 2050, it is projected to account for a significant 35.1% of global greenhouse gas emissions.

Satoro Taiwan is launching its first commercial-service CubeSat in November. The CubeSats target the component in-orbit verification and demonstration (IOV and IOD) demand from semiconductor and space supply chain vendors. Satoro COO Huang Yuan-Sheng also announced that the firm has become Isispace's Southeast Asia distributor.

The demand for low Earth orbit (LEO) satellites is on the rise. Supply chain sources revealed that Amazon has launched its "Project Kuiper." 360 LEO satellites are expected to be launched in 2024, and up to 1,000 in 2025. The growth in the industry is also propelled by Space X's LEO satellite replacement slated for 2026.

Although Huawei's smartphone and car business success this year has been hailed as a turning point that left the impact of the US sanctions behind, Huawei's Q1-Q3 earnings numbers don't quite add up.