Taiwan opens door to Starlink, awaiting Elon Musk's entry

Taiwan has paved the way for overseas satellite internet providers, such as Elon Musk's Starlink, to operate on the island. The legislature approved an amendment to the Telecommunications Management Act on Tuesday, which exempts satellite communications operators from foreign ownership caps and the requirement to have a Taiwanese chair.

These exemptions, pending security and public interest checks, are seen as removing the primary legal barrier that had prevented Starlink from entering the Taiwanese market. Previous negotiations with regulators collapsed in 2021 due to the company's insistence on operating a wholly owned local business.

Analysts believe this development could significantly strengthen both military and civilian communications infrastructure. This is particularly relevant in the context of potential disruptions to conventional networks during a conflict with mainland China.

Taiwan already collaborates with Britain's OneWeb for low Earth orbit satellite services. However, experts note that this existing service might only be sufficient for core military and government agency communications during wartime. The potential entry of Starlink could offer a more robust and widespread solution.

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Taiwan already works with Britain’s OneWeb to provide low Earth orbit satellite services, but Chieh said this would probably only be enough to support core military communications and those of some government agencies during wartime.