CONNECT WITH US
Mar 9
Exclusive: Compal advances Direct to Cell work, integrates communication modules into satellites
Compal Electronics Inc. is developing Direct-to-Cell (D2C) technology for smartphones and has begun integrating communication modules into satellites while negotiating with several international satellite operators, according to company vice president JS Liang.
The US is significantly expanding drone procurement amid escalating tensions in the Middle East, aiming to acquire more than 300,000 drones before 2027. To achieve this massive enhancement of military capabilities within such a short timeframe, the US is also adopting a competitive, multi-supplier model alongside domestic mass production, to diversify supply chain risks and accelerate capacity expansion. This has spurred related supply chains into action as they compete for entry into the US defense industry.
Amid a global supply chain restructuring and energy transition, Sino-American Silicon Products (SAS) has expanded into three major sectors: semiconductors, automotive electronic components, and renewable energy. In 2025's volatile market, SAS's subsidiaries—including GlobalWafers and affiliates Taiwan Specialty Chemicals (TSC), Actron Technology (ATC), and Advanced Wireless Semiconductor Company (AWSC)—have successfully secured profits in advanced processes and AI applications through technological collaboration.
In early 2026, Tesla CEO Elon Musk visited China to inspect its solar supply chain, focusing on back-contact, heterojunction, and perovskite technologies. This move suggests a reevaluation of SpaceX's future space solar power plans, highlighting a shift from prioritizing performance to emphasizing cost efficiency and scalability.

Six months after Taiwan and the United Kingdom held their first Taiwan–UK Space Industry Roundtable in Taiwan in September 2025, the two sides have taken another step toward deeper cooperation in the space sector.

For more than three centuries, the London Stock Exchange helped bankroll the industries that defined their eras, from the railways that stitched together 19th-century Latin America to the oil and mining conglomerates that powered the 20th century. Now, as the global economy turns skyward, London's financial establishment is preparing to finance what could become its next great industrial chapter: the US$1.8 trillion space economy.

US and Israeli strikes on Iran have sharply raised tensions in the Middle East. The operation seeks to weaken Iran's military capability and reshape the regional balance, but with no ground forces involved and attacks relying mainly on airstrikes, its political and military outcomes remain uncertain. Industry observers warn prolonged conflict could weigh on global economic growth. The situation has also reinforced concerns in Taiwan that independent design and manufacturing capabilities for defense technologies are increasingly critical.
Ever since US and Israel joint forces launched attacks on Iran, widespread debate has erupted about the use of AI in warfare. On online platforms like Reddit, claims have surfaced that the US military has employed Anthropic's Claude and xAI's Grok models during the conflict in Iran, suggesting that large AI models have played a critical role in their operations. However, these assertions require a careful look at the facts.

Negotiations between AI startup Anthropic and the US Department of Defense have resumed after talks collapsed last week, while a leaked internal memo criticizing OpenAI's Pentagon agreement has raised tensions. The episode highlights growing disputes between AI developers and defense officials over how advanced models should be used in military operations.

Touch chipmaker Elan held an investor briefing on March 3, 2026, sharing a positive outlook despite challenges in the PC sector. The company noted that customers are accelerating orders ahead of expected cost increases, making the first quarter of 2026 a seasonally strong quarter rather than a typical slowdown. While overall PC shipments may be pressured by memory supply constraints throughout 2026, Elan expects demand to concentrate on high-end products, boosting shipments of its advanced-spec offerings.

In a landmark pivot for British aerospace, Liz Lloyd, Minister for the Digital Economy, responsible for space, has announced a sweeping restructuring of national space policy, backed by a fresh GBP500 million (approx. US$668 million) investment package. The strategy signals an end to fragmented regional efforts, replaced by a "laser-focused" mission to transform the UK into a specialized, "mission-ready" space power.

Syncmold is moving deeper into the low Earth orbit satellite (LEO) supply chain, aiming to turn nascent demand for ground receivers and satellite components into a larger share of revenue as launches and receiving-equipment procurement accelerate globally.