Wu Jong-shinn, the head honcho at Taiwan’s Space Agency, is sounding the alarm bell about the urgent need for the island to kick off its own satellite program. With tensions rising and the threat of an invasion from Beijing looming over Taiwan, he stresses that “the clock is ticking” for the island to ensure reliable internet and communication systems.
China has been ramping up its military presence and pressure on Taiwan, a situation that has been palpable for years. Wu points out that Taiwan requires 150 low Earth orbit (LEO) satellites to achieve “basic communication resilience” in case the underwater cables linking it to the world are severed.
Currently, Taiwan is operating without any of its own satellites.
“We’ve got to step up our technological game. But we are running out of time,” Wu remarked during an interview.
Recent events have shown just how vulnerable Taiwan is. A couple of months ago in February 2023, the island faced major communication hurdles when two telecom cables were cut, disrupting services for weeks on end.
While they plan to launch the first of six LEO satellites in 2027 as part of the Beyond 5G LEO Satellite program, it’s a ticking clock since U.S. officials have pegged that same year as a potential timeline for a Chinese invasion of Taiwan.
As a stopgap, Taiwan’s Chunghwa Telecom is already inking agreements with satellite firms worldwide for back-up communication systems to safeguard the island against both military strikes and natural disasters.
Terrestrial giant Starlink, which currently leads the satellite communication space with around 8,000 satellites launched via Elon Musk’s affordable SpaceX rockets, is being eyed for backup solutions. However, Musk’s ties with China, along with his previous remarks suggesting Taiwan should consider union with it, have stirred resentment among Taiwanese officials.
Hence, Taiwan has pursued a significant multi-million agreement with Eutelsat—a leading European player in LEO satellites and now even bigger following its merger with British company OneWeb.
Eutelsat operates over 600 satellites which may prove crucial for Taiwan, yet Wu emphasizes that relying solely on Eutelsat isn’t enough; other providers are required to complete the mix.
Partnerships have sprouted elsewhere, including collaborations with U.S. firms like Astranis and SES based in Luxembourg. They are even engaging in talks with Canada’s Telesat and Amazon’s Kuiper.
The Eutelsat satellite network reportedly came into its own pan during a severe earthquake in 2024, restoring communication following the 7.4-magnitude jolt that rocked Taiwan’s eastern coast.
“We can’t afford to depend on just one solution,” Wu asserts.
In the big picture, it’s vital to recognize that Taiwan lags far behind the colossal investments made by both the United States and Chinese programs when it comes to space exploration and satellite launches. The superpowers have funneled billions into sending people into orbit and deploying vast networks of satellites.
Currently, Taiwan operates just seven weather satellites and one optical remote sensing satellite but aspires to have over 20 satellites flying by around 2031. Plans are already in place for the launch of their second optical remote sensing satellite from Vandenberg Space Force Base in California this November, aboard a SpaceX rocket.
Additionally, Wu mentioned that Taiwan is eyeing plans to develop its own rockets and launch sites within the next decade.
Yet, some pundits ponder whether developing their own satellite communications systems makes economic sense compared to what’s available on the market. “To effectively serve users, we need a robust constellation of satellites in low Earth orbit that guarantees persistent coverage,” notes Brad Tucker, a prominent astrophysicist from the Australian National University.
This will require a long-term commitment and maintenance, as indicated by Starlink’s business model where they phase out old satellites roughly every three years.
On the flip side, Cathy Fang, a policy expert for Taiwan, echoes concerns of over-reliance on foreign providers, stressing that it could be perilous during wartime scenarios.
Lessons from Ukraine, evidenced by the critical role Starlink has played in combating military activity, signal a cautionary tale; especially after Musk has admitted to throttling internet access during a Ukrainian offensive against Russian naval forces.
“We can’t solely depend on one provider,” Fang insists. “We must nurture our local industry to bolster our resilience.”
