3 minute read•Updated 5:44 PM EDT, Wed April 16, 2025
Astranis, the California-based small satellite manufacturer, has announced its largest commercial contract to date: a $115 million deal to deliver Taiwan’s first dedicated communications satellite. The deal was revealed April 15 and underscores the growing demand for flexible, mission-specific geostationary satellites amid rising geopolitical and natural threats.
The Ka-band satellite, ordered by Taiwanese telecom giant Chunghwa Telecom, is slated to launch by the end of 2025 aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket. It will fly as part of Block 3, a group of five Astranis-built satellites destined for geostationary orbit (GEO).
“This collaboration enables us to build a dedicated, secure digital infrastructure for Taiwan...One that can serve as a critical real-time backup against natural disasters, submarine cable disruptions, and evolving global uncertainties.” - Alex Chien, Chairman of Chunghwa Telecom.
The deal marks a major milestone for Astranis, not only in terms of revenue but also in strategic significance; Chunghwa is paying more than previous customers due to “a mix of a very fast delivery time & a mission-critical use case.”
A Strategic Addition to a Multi-Orbit Network
Taiwan’s new satellite will serve as a resilient node in Chunghwa’s expanding satellite strategy, which already includes capacity from SES’s medium Earth orbit (MEO) fleet and OneWeb’s low Earth orbit (LEO) network. The new satellite will complement these assets while helping to phase out the aging ST-2 GEO satellite built in Japan.
Unlike traditional GEO satellites, which are often the size of a school bus, Astranis’ spacecraft are roughly the size of a dishwasher and are tailored for regional markets. The company retains operational control of the satellites and leases capacity to customers, offering a more agile and cost-effective solution.
Technical Troubleshooting on UtilitySat
The announcement comes as Astranis continues to troubleshoot UtilitySat, one of four satellites launched in late 2024 as part of the company’s Block 2 program.
While the other three Block 2 satellites are successfully raising their orbits using onboard electric propulsion, UtilitySat has not shown any change in altitude, inclination, or eccentricity since mid-February, according to orbital tracking data from CelesTrak.
“The satellite is healthy and in a safe state...We’re troubleshooting an issue and have paused its orbit raise, as we’re taking time to fully diagnose and address the issue before beginning orbit raise again.” - Christian Keil
Astranis originally designed UtilitySat as a flexible backup with Ka-, Ku-, Q-, and V-band capabilities. It was meant to provide temporary service over Alaska after a solar array failure disabled Astranis’ debut satellite, which had been built for Pacific Dataport Inc. (PDI). UtilitySat was expected to bridge the gap while Astranis developed a full PDI replacement. However, delays in the Block 2 launch and the absence of a new agreement with PDI have left that plan in limbo.
“There is not a replacement for PDI on the launch docket...The two parties haven’t agreed to new terms for another satellite yet.” - Christian Keil
Diverse Customer Lineup for Block 3
Joining Chunghwa’s satellite on the upcoming Block 3 mission are:
Two satellites for Apco Networks, a telecom provider in Mexico
One satellite for Thaicom, Thailand’s national satellite operator
One satellite for Orbits Corp of the Philippines, which already has a Block 2 satellite preparing to come online later this year
All five satellites will ride a single Falcon 9 to geostationary transfer orbit, showcasing SpaceX’s ability to bundle compact GEO spacecraft in one launch; further reducing costs and timelines for customers.
