Low-Earth Orbit Satellite Expansion Creates Long-Term Opportunities for WNC and Auden
Table of Contents
You might want to know
- How could the expansion of low-Earth orbit satellite networks increase demand for ground equipment and antenna systems?
- What roles are Taiwan-based WNC and Auden taking in the satellite communications supply chain?
Main Topic
The global low-Earth orbit (LEO) satellite market is entering another period of rapid expansion. SpaceX’s Starlink program is moving toward deployment at the scale of its next-generation V3 satellites, while technology companies such as Blue Origin are broadening their ambitions in space. These developments are increasing attention on the equipment needed not only in orbit, but also on the ground. Taiwan-based networking equipment maker WNC (啓碁, 6285-TW) and radio-frequency specialist Auden (耀登, 3138-TW) have spent years developing products and services in ground terminals, antennas, and related technologies. Their established capabilities could position them to benefit as satellite networks and their supporting infrastructure grow.
The opportunity spans a broadening supply chain. Satellite launches and constellation deployments require components and specialized technologies, but commercial services also depend on terminals, radio-frequency systems, testing, and manufacturing capacity. As the market matures, value creation is expected to extend beyond individual components toward modules and integrated systems. This transition may create opportunities for suppliers that can combine technical expertise with the ability to deliver reliable, production-ready solutions.
Research firm TrendForce estimates that the global satellite and rocket launch market will grow from US$29.3 billion in 2026 to US$40.4 billion in 2028. That represents growth of nearly 40% over two years. The forecast reflects several forces: V3 satellite deployment, lower launch costs enabled by Starship, and the gradual development of sixth-generation (6G) non-terrestrial network applications. Together, these factors may support a larger and more connected satellite ecosystem, with demand reaching across the value chain.
Ground equipment is an especially important part of that ecosystem. It accounts for 54.58% of industry output value, making it the largest segment in the cited value structure and one in which Taiwanese suppliers have competitive strengths. Satellite services require equipment on the ground to communicate with spacecraft, connect users, and support network operations. As the number of satellites and service users rises, manufacturers of terminals and related systems may face demand from both consumer and enterprise applications.
Starlink’s subscriber base has continued to rise and now stands at 12 million users. Meanwhile, Amazon (AMZN-US)’s Blue Origin is planning an orbital data center constellation involving more than 50,000 satellites, alongside TeraWave, an enterprise-grade satellite communications initiative. These plans point to potential demand for a wide range of ground terminals and communications equipment. Consumer broadband, enterprise connectivity, and emerging orbital infrastructure may each require distinct performance, installation, and reliability characteristics.
WNC is working to deepen its technical capabilities and reduce the cost of radio-frequency front-end systems. The company recently began collaborating with the Information and Communications Research Laboratories of the Industrial Technology Research Institute (ITRI) to promote mass production of domestically developed Ka-band phased-array antenna modules. The project uses Taiwan’s first independently developed beamforming chip. By advancing local module production and integrating beam steering capabilities, the collaboration aims to support commercialization across several types of terminals.
Potential applications include ground receivers, drones, and vehicle-mounted equipment, all of which can involve high mobility. Maintaining a satellite connection while a terminal moves can require antenna systems capable of tracking signals and adapting to changing conditions. Phased-array technologies are relevant to these demands because they can steer communication beams electronically. The development of locally produced modules could also help address cost and supply considerations as these applications move toward broader commercialization.
Auden is targeting opportunities associated with 6G non-terrestrial networks and LEO satellite ground equipment. The company has secured a Ka-band ground receiving station project from Taiwan’s National Space Organization (NSPO) and is in discussions with customers involved in LEO and medium- and high-Earth orbit satellites. Its work therefore reaches beyond individual radio-frequency components to include equipment and services tied to satellite communications infrastructure.
Testing and certification form another part of Auden’s strategy. The company has extended its measurement and verification capabilities to satellite ground transmit-and-receive equipment, offering customers a more integrated service. Testing can help establish whether equipment performs as expected and meets relevant requirements before deployment. By combining verification with other technical services, Auden aims to provide customers with support across more stages of product development and implementation.
Auden has also expanded its measurement-equipment business by adding agency agreements for key satellite communications simulation and antenna-testing equipment from two companies in Canada and Denmark. Such equipment can assist customers with evaluating satellite links, antennas, and communications systems. The expansion complements the company’s verification services and may give it a broader role in the satellite equipment ecosystem, where testing and validation are important alongside product design and manufacturing.
Manufacturing capacity and supply-chain strategy are also central to the companies’ plans. Both are advancing non-red supply-chain arrangements to support long-term orders. WNC is expanding production capacity in Vietnam and Mexico and plans for Vietnam to account for more than half of its production capacity in 2026. Auden’s new Vietnam factory is scheduled to begin production in the third quarter, with the production lines offering the potential to expand to 18 lines.
These investments reflect the need to match production with a market that may grow over multiple years. Expanding manufacturing in different locations can help suppliers serve customers, manage production requirements, and adapt to supply-chain preferences. However, the existence of planned capacity does not by itself guarantee utilization or future revenue. The pace of satellite deployment, customer orders, product qualification, and the successful execution of factory plans will all influence how effectively suppliers convert market demand into business performance.
The central opportunity is not limited to launching more satellites: it also depends on building and validating the ground infrastructure that allows users, businesses, and mobile platforms to connect reliably. WNC’s antenna-module work and overseas production plans, together with Auden’s ground-station, testing, and equipment activities, illustrate how suppliers can participate at several stages of this infrastructure buildout. Their long-term prospects will depend on technical execution and customer adoption as well as the overall growth of satellite networks.
Key Insights Table
| Aspect | Description |
|---|---|
| Market forecast | TrendForce projects that the global satellite and rocket launch market will rise from US$29.3 billion in 2026 to US$40.4 billion in 2028, growth of nearly 40% over two years. |
| Ground equipment | Ground equipment represents 54.58% of industry output value and is identified as the largest segment, with Taiwanese suppliers holding competitive strengths. |
| Demand drivers | V3 satellite deployment, Starship’s role in lowering launch costs, emerging 6G non-terrestrial networks, Starlink’s 12 million users, and Blue Origin’s plans for more than 50,000 satellites could support demand. |
| WNC’s technology focus | WNC and ITRI are working on mass production of Ka-band phased-array antenna modules using Taiwan’s first independently developed beamforming chip. |
| Auden’s satellite activities | Auden has a Ka-band ground receiving station project from NSPO, is engaging with LEO and medium- and high-orbit satellite customers, and is extending testing services to satellite ground equipment. |
| Manufacturing plans | WNC is expanding in Vietnam and Mexico, with Vietnam planned to exceed half of its capacity in 2026. Auden’s Vietnam factory is scheduled to start production in the third quarter, with potential to expand to 18 lines. |
Afterwards...
The next phase of satellite communications will depend on more than the number of spacecraft in orbit. Continued progress in phased-array antennas, beamforming chips, radio-frequency systems, and compact terminals could make satellite connectivity more practical for users on the move. Further research into how these technologies perform across ground, airborne, and vehicle-mounted settings may help clarify where satellite services can complement existing communications networks.
It will also be important to explore how satellite networks integrate with 6G non-terrestrial systems, terrestrial infrastructure, and emerging data services. Standards, interoperability, spectrum coordination, cybersecurity, and reliable testing will all influence whether different networks and devices can work together effectively. As orbital data-center concepts and enterprise satellite services develop, research into their communications requirements and ground infrastructure needs will become increasingly relevant.
Finally, long-term industry development will benefit from careful examination of manufacturing resilience and supply-chain practices. New facilities and non-red supply arrangements can broaden production options, but their effectiveness depends on execution, workforce capabilities, customer qualification, and sustainable demand. Tracking these technical and operational factors will provide a more complete view of how satellite growth translates into durable opportunities for equipment and service providers.
Last edited at：2026/10/10