Importance Score: 72 / 100 🔴
Astranis Secures $115 Million Deal for Taiwan’s First Dedicated Communications Satellite Amidst Spacecraft Anomaly
TAMPA, Fla. — Astranis, a prominent space technology firm, has finalized a significant $115 million agreement to provide Taiwan with its inaugural dedicated communications satellite. This announcement, made on April 15, occurs as the company addresses a reported anomaly with a separate small geostationary satellite launched in late 2023.
The Ka-band satellite, commissioned by Taiwanese telecommunications provider Chunghwa Telecom, is part of Astranis’s Block 3 series. This batch of five spacecraft is scheduled for launch aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket later this year.
Largest Commercial Agreement to Date
According to Astranis spokesperson Christian Keil, this agreement signifies the manufacturer’s most substantial commercial contract thus far. In an email communication, Keil indicated that Chunghwa Telecom’s investment reflects a premium driven by “a combination of expedited delivery timelines and a mission-critical application.”
Enhancing Taiwan’s Digital Infrastructure
Chunghwa Telecom’s Chairman, Alex Chien, emphasized the strategic importance of the compact satellite, approximately the size of a dishwasher. He stated it would enhance the adaptability and robustness of the telco’s multi-orbit satellite strategy. This strategy currently incorporates the existing ST-2 geostationary satellite (built in Japan), medium Earth orbit capacity from SES, and low Earth orbit services from OneWeb.
“This partnership empowers us to establish a specialized, secure digital infrastructure for Taiwan,” Chien affirmed in a released statement. “This infrastructure will serve as a vital real-time backup system against potential threats such as natural disasters, disruptions to submarine cables, and the fluid nature of global uncertainties.”
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Satellite Troubleshooting Underway
In January, Astranis reported that all four of its recently launched Block 2 satellites had initiated their orbit raising procedures using onboard electric propulsion to reach geostationary orbit in the coming months, following successful initial assessments.
However, data from CelesTrak, a non-profit organization, indicates that UtilitySat, one of these satellites, has shown no observable changes in altitude, inclination, or eccentricity since mid-February.
“The satellite remains in a stable and secure condition,” Keil clarified. “We are currently investigating a technical matter and have temporarily suspended its orbit raise. This pause allows us necessary time for a comprehensive diagnosis and resolution of the issue before resuming orbit raising operations.”
Keil refrained from disclosing further details regarding the issue but confirmed that the remaining three Block 2 satellites are executing their orbit raising maneuvers as expected.
UtilitySat Background
Astranis originally announced UtilitySat in 2023 following a solar array malfunction on its initial spacecraft. The debut spacecraft was intended to deliver commercial broadband services over Alaska for Pacific Dataport Inc. (PDI), a local telecommunications company.
UtilitySat was engineered with Ka-, Ku-, Q- and V-band transponders, designed to accommodate a diverse range of mission requirements.
Astranis had initially planned to deploy UtilitySat to provide interim services over Alaska while concurrently developing a complete replacement satellite for PDI.
However, the Block 2 launch encountered an approximate year-long delay, ultimately occurring in December 2024. Plans to launch a PDI replacement on Block 3 also did not come to fruition.
“There is currently no replacement satellite for PDI scheduled for launch,” Keil stated. “The two entities have not yet reached an agreement on revised terms for a subsequent satellite.”
Block 3 Mission Manifest
Joining Chunghwa Telecom on the Block 3 mission are several other satellites, including two for Mexican telco Apco Networks, one for Thailand’s Thaicom, and another for Orbits Corp of the Philippines. Orbits Corp also has a Block 2 satellite anticipated to become operational later this year.
Astranis’s Satellite Operations
Astranis manages the satellites it manufactures, offering their capacity to clients through long-term lease agreements. Their spacecraft, significantly smaller than conventional school bus-sized geostationary satellites, are specifically designed for regional markets and customers seeking adaptable and scalable solutions.