Deregulation for Low-Earth Orbit Satellites like Starlink in Taiwan; NCC: Current Regulations Can Accommodate
Opposition lawmakers proposed amending the Telecommunications Management Act to ease foreign investment limits, aiming to allow Starlink into Taiwan. The NCC responded that current laws already permit operations under certain conditions, such as FTAs, while stressing the need for ground stations to ensure data sovereignty.
📋 Article Processing Timeline
- 📰 Published: April 22, 2026 at 16:43
- 🔍 Collected: April 22, 2026 at 17:02 (18 min after Published)
- 🤖 AI Analyzed: April 23, 2026 at 08:55 (15h 52m after Collected)
Central News Agency
(CNA Reporter Lin Ching-yin, Taipei, 22nd) Opposition lawmakers proposed amending the Telecommunications Management Act, demanding a relaxation of foreign investment restrictions with the intent of loosening regulations for low-earth orbit (LEO) satellite constellations like Starlink to enter Taiwan. Chen Chung-shu, acting chairman of the National Communications Commission (NCC), said today that the deregulation in countries like Japan and South Korea comes with binding prerequisites, such as signing an FTA, which allows the foreign investment clause to be exempted. He stated that under the current provisions, "it can definitely be operated if desired"; if the US-Taiwan Trade Agreement complies, an exemption can be granted.
The Transportation Committee of the Legislative Yuan reviewed the draft amendment to Article 36 of the Telecommunications Management Act today. Lawmakers from both ruling and opposition parties continually asked about the issue of global LEO satellite leader SpaceX's Starlink not yet providing services in Taiwan.
DPP legislator Lee Kun-tse stated that the satellite constellations currently landing in Taiwan are all foreign-owned. If they unilaterally cut off signals due to geopolitical pressure, it would be a very serious matter. Therefore, signing a legally binding emergency communication priority agreement with them is crucial.
Regarding whether Starlink's lack of landing in Taiwan is related to regulatory restrictions, Minister of Digital Affairs Lin I-ching said that currently only Starlink has not come to Taiwan. Their attitude is very interesting; the reason they give is that Taiwan's 4G and 5G coverage is too high. This might be the actual situation, or it could be a negotiation tactic. The Ministry of Digital Affairs (MODA) will work hard to negotiate, and there is a lot of back-and-forth and negotiation tactics involved.
Lin I-ching stated that whether it's Amazon or Starlink, they all have their own satellites and receivers. Although the supply chain is in Taiwan, the actual sales are in the hands of the constellation operators. If an emergency occurs in Taiwan, if a Taiwanese company is the agent, the legal liability for breach of contract is a B2B dispute between the agent and the foreign company. If sold directly to the public, it becomes an issue between the user and the headquarters, which is indeed more troublesome.
Lee Kun-tse suggested that the government should include the management rights of local ground stations and emergency bandwidth guarantees into the contracts, expand multi-orbit applications, strengthen the hybrid application of medium and low earth orbits, and disperse the risk of a single constellation failing.
DPP legislator Lin Chun-hsien noted that Starlink is currently the mainstream globally. Countries like Japan, South Korea, Vietnam, and the Philippines have successively opened up. He asked if a special project review approach is feasible. Lin I-ching said that if flexibility could be broadened, it would be more advantageous for MODA's communication, coordination, or negotiation with Starlink.
Chen Chung-shu pointed out that deregulation in other countries always comes with binding prerequisites, such as signing a Free Trade Agreement (FTA). In addition, even if Europe lets go of foreign investment restrictions, it still requires foreign investors to set up local ground stations (Gateways) to ensure data sovereignty.
Chen Chung-shu stated that under the current provisions, "it can definitely be operated if desired." For example, if the US-Taiwan Trade Agreement complies, an exemption can be granted.
KMT legislator Hung Meng-kai expressed concern that if Starlink is deregulated, it might be utilized by fraud rings, and Taiwan would be unable to track it. He asked how Japan and South Korea solved this.
Chen Chung-shu explained that Japan has set up Gateways, allowing for substantial control in communication monitoring. South Korea is also in talks and has domestic operators participating, giving the country a certain degree of control over national security, communication monitoring, cybersecurity, and combating fraud. If it is purely a foreign company without the participation of domestic operators, there are "concerns about efficiency and speed" in dealing with fraud and cybersecurity.
Chen Chung-shu added that there is also the issue of data sovereignty. Even if European countries relax the foreign investment ratio, they still require Starlink to set up local Gateways. Currently, domestic regulations can already achieve this. If considered necessary for national security, it can be done in phases, starting with 2B (Business) and 2G (Government), but the counterpart currently has no intention to do so. (Editor: Su Chih-tsung) 1150422
Choose to stand with the facts; every sponsorship you make is the power to protect press freedom.
Download the CNA "First Hand News" APP to grasp the latest news instantly.
The text, images, and audio/video on this website may not be reproduced, publicly broadcast, or publicly transmitted and utilized without authorization.
(CNA Reporter Lin Ching-yin, Taipei, 22nd) Opposition lawmakers proposed amending the Telecommunications Management Act, demanding a relaxation of foreign investment restrictions with the intent of loosening regulations for low-earth orbit (LEO) satellite constellations like Starlink to enter Taiwan. Chen Chung-shu, acting chairman of the National Communications Commission (NCC), said today that the deregulation in countries like Japan and South Korea comes with binding prerequisites, such as signing an FTA, which allows the foreign investment clause to be exempted. He stated that under the current provisions, "it can definitely be operated if desired"; if the US-Taiwan Trade Agreement complies, an exemption can be granted.
The Transportation Committee of the Legislative Yuan reviewed the draft amendment to Article 36 of the Telecommunications Management Act today. Lawmakers from both ruling and opposition parties continually asked about the issue of global LEO satellite leader SpaceX's Starlink not yet providing services in Taiwan.
DPP legislator Lee Kun-tse stated that the satellite constellations currently landing in Taiwan are all foreign-owned. If they unilaterally cut off signals due to geopolitical pressure, it would be a very serious matter. Therefore, signing a legally binding emergency communication priority agreement with them is crucial.
Regarding whether Starlink's lack of landing in Taiwan is related to regulatory restrictions, Minister of Digital Affairs Lin I-ching said that currently only Starlink has not come to Taiwan. Their attitude is very interesting; the reason they give is that Taiwan's 4G and 5G coverage is too high. This might be the actual situation, or it could be a negotiation tactic. The Ministry of Digital Affairs (MODA) will work hard to negotiate, and there is a lot of back-and-forth and negotiation tactics involved.
Lin I-ching stated that whether it's Amazon or Starlink, they all have their own satellites and receivers. Although the supply chain is in Taiwan, the actual sales are in the hands of the constellation operators. If an emergency occurs in Taiwan, if a Taiwanese company is the agent, the legal liability for breach of contract is a B2B dispute between the agent and the foreign company. If sold directly to the public, it becomes an issue between the user and the headquarters, which is indeed more troublesome.
Lee Kun-tse suggested that the government should include the management rights of local ground stations and emergency bandwidth guarantees into the contracts, expand multi-orbit applications, strengthen the hybrid application of medium and low earth orbits, and disperse the risk of a single constellation failing.
DPP legislator Lin Chun-hsien noted that Starlink is currently the mainstream globally. Countries like Japan, South Korea, Vietnam, and the Philippines have successively opened up. He asked if a special project review approach is feasible. Lin I-ching said that if flexibility could be broadened, it would be more advantageous for MODA's communication, coordination, or negotiation with Starlink.
Chen Chung-shu pointed out that deregulation in other countries always comes with binding prerequisites, such as signing a Free Trade Agreement (FTA). In addition, even if Europe lets go of foreign investment restrictions, it still requires foreign investors to set up local ground stations (Gateways) to ensure data sovereignty.
Chen Chung-shu stated that under the current provisions, "it can definitely be operated if desired." For example, if the US-Taiwan Trade Agreement complies, an exemption can be granted.
KMT legislator Hung Meng-kai expressed concern that if Starlink is deregulated, it might be utilized by fraud rings, and Taiwan would be unable to track it. He asked how Japan and South Korea solved this.
Chen Chung-shu explained that Japan has set up Gateways, allowing for substantial control in communication monitoring. South Korea is also in talks and has domestic operators participating, giving the country a certain degree of control over national security, communication monitoring, cybersecurity, and combating fraud. If it is purely a foreign company without the participation of domestic operators, there are "concerns about efficiency and speed" in dealing with fraud and cybersecurity.
Chen Chung-shu added that there is also the issue of data sovereignty. Even if European countries relax the foreign investment ratio, they still require Starlink to set up local Gateways. Currently, domestic regulations can already achieve this. If considered necessary for national security, it can be done in phases, starting with 2B (Business) and 2G (Government), but the counterpart currently has no intention to do so. (Editor: Su Chih-tsung) 1150422
Choose to stand with the facts; every sponsorship you make is the power to protect press freedom.
Download the CNA "First Hand News" APP to grasp the latest news instantly.
The text, images, and audio/video on this website may not be reproduced, publicly broadcast, or publicly transmitted and utilized without authorization.