Foxconn, known for producing iPhones, has achieved a major feat by launching two prototype low-Earth orbit (LEO) satellites via a SpaceX rocket from Vandenberg Space Force Base in California.
This move signals the company's expansion into satellite technology, meeting the growing demand for space-based communication systems.
Unlike Elon Musk-led SpaceX, which focuses on the Starlink satellite internet constellation with over 5,000 LEO satellites, Foxconn targets corporate and government clients with its satellite creations.
- Satellites co-developed with Taiwan's National Central University:
These LEO satellites, developed jointly with Taiwan's National Central University, are compact, weighing around 9kg, akin to a backpack in size. Outfitted with cameras, communication tools, and various devices, these satellites orbit the Earth at 520km altitude, completing the journey every 96 minutes. Since taking the reins from founder Terry Gou, Chairman Yang Liu has diversified Foxconn's portfolio, branching into industries such as electric vehicles, digital health, robotics, artificial intelligence, semiconductors, and communication satellites.
- Challenges in satellite business and government support:
Interestingly, despite being the largest iPhone manufacturer globally, Foxconn faces an intriguing hurdle. While Apple consistently requires millions of iPhones every quarter, LEO satellite customers order at longer intervals, leading to less predictable outcomes for companies like Foxconn that handle satellite production. Nevertheless, there's a glimmer of stability through potential government contracts, especially as Taiwan gears up to launch its inaugural LEO communication satellite, aiming to establish space-based alternatives to undersea cables.
- Foxconn's electric vehicle business could provide supplementary assistance:
Foxconn's electric vehicle (EV) division stands as an additional support system for its satellite business, given the essential need for real-time communication technology in EVs. Jason Wang, a Foxconn analyst at Masterlink Securities Corp in Taipei, highlighted the necessity of an infrastructure demonstration in Taiwan to facilitate the export of this business. Leveraging its experience in electronics and knowledge gained from manufacturing smartphones, gaming consoles, and various devices, Foxconn is poised to aid this transition.
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