Minister of Digital Affairs Lin Yi-ching (林宜敬) yesterday cited regulatory issues and national security concerns as an expert said that Taiwan is among the few Asian regions without Starlink.
Lin made the remarks on Facebook after funP Innovation Group chief executive officer Nathan Chiu (邱繼弘) on Friday said Taiwan and four other countries in Asia — China, North Korea, Afghanistan and Syria — have no access to Starlink.
Starlink has become available in 166 countries worldwide, including Ukraine, Malaysia, the Philippines and Vietnam, in the six years since it became commercial, he said.
Photo: Bloomberg
While China and North Korea block Starlink, Syria is not eligible for Starlink due to sanctions, Chiu said, adding that the Taliban in Afghanistan has also willingly forsworn access.
However, Taiwan is blocked by its own laws, Chiu said.
Under the Telecommunications Act (電信法), owners of first-category telecommunications businesses must be citizens of the Republic of China, he said, adding that foreigners cannot hold direct shareholdings exceeding 49 percent as well as directly or indirectly controlled stock exceeding 60 percent.
Chiu said that the situation is complicated by past remarks from Starlink chief executive officer Elon Musk, who has said that “Taiwan is part of China,” adding that there have also been claims that the Chinese government has pressured Musk not to make Starlink available in Taiwan.
Other options, such as the UK’s OneWeb, only has 654 satellites, while Amazon Leo, with 212 satellites, has yet to enter commercial operations, Chiu said, adding that Canada’s Telesat has not yet launched any satellites.
None of those options can compete with Starlink’s 7,000 satellites, he said, adding that Taiwan should consider easing its regulations and “throw the ball back to the other side” to see how it responds.
Lin said that Starlink held talks with the National Communications Commission (NCC) to provide services, but negotiations fell through after the company insisted on operating in Taiwan as a wholly owned entity.
The Ministry of Digital Affairs reached out again to Starlink, with the company responding that Taiwan’s small size and dense population, along with more than 99 percent 4G and 5G coverage, means it does not consider it a high-priority market, Lin said.
The NCC is responsible for any legal changes, he said, adding that it has a supportive, open stance.
Amazon Leo is a strong alternative, as the company intends to launch 3,200 satellites before 2028 and is expected to go commercial in the first half of next year, Lin said.
The company’s operations would not require Taiwan to amend the act.
Amazon Leo’s use of Optical Inter-Satellite Link would remove the need to set up ground-side reception stations, he said.
Taiwan has also signed memoranda of understanding with AST SpaceMobile, which also does not require Taiwan to amend the act, he said, adding that the government is working with multiple options, but cannot comment further due to non-disclosure agreements.
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