Foxconn, the world’s largest iPhone supplier, plans to enter the satellite technology business. The company aims to provide various services to corporate and government customers around the world through Low-Earth Orbit (LEO) satellites in space. As a first step toward that goal, Foxconn launched two prototype LEO satellites into space on Saturday.
According to experts, there has been a slight slowdown in the manufacturing of smartphones and laptops, the two core businesses of Taiwanese company Foxconn. Because of that, the company is looking to enter new business areas. As part of that, Foxconn plans to enter satellite technology to take full advantage of the growing demand for communications from space.
Elon Musk’s SpaceX has already put more than 5,000 LEO satellites into space for their Starlink constellation. The two satellites Foxconn sent into space were developed in a joint venture with Taiwan’s National Central University. The backpack-sized satellite weighs 9 kilograms.
It contains various cameras, communication devices and other equipment. At an altitude of 529 km above the earth, they are capable of orbiting the world every 96 minutes. Over the past four years, Foxconn Chairman Yong Liu has expanded the business into artificial intelligence, semiconductors and communications satellite technology, in addition to focusing on areas such as electric vehicles, digital health and robotics.
