- Chunghwa Telecom partners with Astranis for MicroGEO satellite launch
- Project strengthens Taiwan’s digital infrastructure and disaster resilience
What happened: Chunghwa telecom teams up with Astranis to launch Taiwan’s first exclusive communications satellite
Chunghwa Telecom has entered a strategic partnership with U.S.-based satellite firm Astranis to deploy Taiwan’s first dedicated communications satellite. The satellite, which utilises MicroGEO technology, is slated for launch by the end of this year, with full bandwidth availability expected in early 2026. This marks a historic milestone for Taiwan, as the satellite will be solely allocated to serve the island’s communication needs.
Astranis, recognised globally for its compact, agile MicroGEO satellites, will provide a platform tailored for rapid deployment and high-reliability operations. This move is aligned with Chunghwa Telecom’s broader multi-orbit satellite strategy, which currently encompasses the ST-2 geostationary satellite, OneWeb’s low Earth orbit (LEO) network, and SES’s medium Earth orbit (MEO) system.
According to Dr Alex C.C. Chien, Chairman of Chunghwa Telecom, the partnership with Astranis is central to enhancing the “Sea, Land and Sky” integrated communications framework. The satellite will act as a critical safeguard, providing secure communications continuity in the face of natural disasters, submarine cable disruptions, and geopolitical tensions.
John Gedmark, CEO of Astranis, stated that the collaboration reflects the company’s original mission: delivering dedicated satellite capacity where it is most essential. The partnership underscores both companies’ commitment to infrastructure resilience and independent communications capabilities.
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Why it’s important
The introduction of a dedicated MicroGEO satellite by Chunghwa Telecom and Astranis has critical implications for Taiwan’s national communications infrastructure. In an era marked by increased dependency on digital connectivity and growing disruptions—ranging from climate-related disasters to undersea cable failures—ensuring continuity of service has become a national imperative.
The MicroGEO satellite will enable Taiwan to maintain independent, high-availability communications, even when traditional infrastructure is compromised. Chunghwa Telecom’s integration of MicroGEO technology into its existing satellite framework diversifies its network architecture across multiple orbital planes—low, medium, and geostationary. This enhances network flexibility and availability across public and private sectors.
For government agencies and enterprise clients, the satellite brings added assurance that mission-critical communications will remain operational during crises. Additionally, it aligns with broader regional trends of telecom providers investing in satellite-based redundancy as part of long-term risk mitigation.
The collaboration demonstrates a growing reliance on space-based infrastructure as nations adapt to a more volatile and interconnected global landscape. By building sovereign digital assets like dedicated satellites, telecom firms can better manage both domestic and transnational communication risks.
