Amazon's low-Earth-orbit satellite network, Project Kuiper, may soon land in Taiwan, where competition among local telecom operators is intensifying. Reports suggest Far EasTone Telecom holds an early advantage because it controls 28 GHz spectrum bands compatible with Kuiper's technology.

Lightel Technologies, a fiber optic component maker headquartered in Seattle, has emerged as a key supplier in the rapidly expanding satellite laser communications market, as rising global demand pushes the company into its next phase of growth.

As the global space investment boom shows signs of slowing, startups across Asia and Europe are turning increasingly to public funds to sustain momentum in aerospace innovation. According to Nikkei and research from Greenberg Traurig, lower-than-expected returns and limited exit opportunities have made private investors more cautious about space ventures. In this funding vacuum, governments are stepping up as the primary backers of space-related innovation.

A new reality is setting in on the modern battlefield. Attackers are using drones that cost thousands of dollars to force defenders to fire missiles worth millions. This lopsided economic fight is a key feature of modern asymmetric warfare, evident from the war in Ukraine to conflicts in the Red Sea. Strategies built on cheap, mass-produced weapons are proving highly effective and are now central to both offense and defense.

Taiwan is accelerating its development of attack drones to strengthen its asymmetric warfare capabilities, with the new "Mighty Hornet" series leading the charge. This strategic shift addresses a critical gap in Taiwan's defenses, drawing lessons from the war in Ukraine and responding to the growing military threat across the strait.

The Taiwanese government announced a major investment of NT$44.2 billion (US$1.36 billion) to develop a new fleet of advanced drones. The plan, unveiled on October 16, 2025, aims to produce 26 types of high-endurance drones designed for extreme conditions. Officials said the initiative is a core part of a strategy to bolster national defense and establish Taiwan as a key partner in a "democratic drone supply chain" for the Asia-Pacific region.

The Sun Yad Group, known for its subsidiary Myson Century, which aims to become Taiwan's answer to DJI, also includes U-Best Innovative Technology, an upstream PU resin supplier that has developed bulletproof coatings. U-Best is actively expanding into defense and security materials and has recently completed customer validation for its bulletproof coating, which is primarily used in soft body armor. In addition, U-Best has begun mass production of a new generation of eco-friendly water-based treatment agents, which have already been adopted by major Taiwanese manufacturers.

At the opening of the 2025 Taipei Innovative Textile Application Show (TITAS) on October 14, Tong-sheng Wu, chairman of Shinkong Synthetic Fibers Corporation (SSFC)—a subsidiary of Shinkong Group—addressed the industry's ongoing challenges, from global tariffs to China's low-price dumping. Despite this, he maintained an optimistic outlook, remarking, "Business is always tough, but there are always opportunities."

The Ministry of Digital Affairs (MODA) is actively advancing low Earth orbit (LEO) satellite business development, with Minister Yi-Jing Lin revealing on October 15 at the Legislative Yuan's Transportation Committee that aside from Chunghwa Telecom (CHT)'s OneWeb, talks are also underway for collaboration with Amazon Web Services' (AWS) LEO satellite service Kuiper. Far EasTone Telecommunications (FET) is likely to become Kuiper's commercial operator in Taiwan.

The Taiwan Space Agency (TASA) has signed a five-year memorandum of understanding (MOU) with the United Kingdom's Satellite Applications Catapult (SAC), marking a significant step toward deeper bilateral cooperation in the fast-evolving global space economy.

In a milestone for Taiwan's growing space ambitions, Japanese space startup ispace announced it has been selected by the Taiwan Space Agency (TASA) to transport scientific instruments to the lunar surface aboard its 2028 mission.