Beyond Horizons
Trailblazing Tales from Asia
Your exclusive gateway to the latest developments across transportation and space, and most importantly, how to finance it all - debt, equity, and defi! We follow and forecast where the money’s at.
Join us as we navigate through the latest roundup to uncover key developments across the region.
**Nothing in this article is intended to be or should be construed as legal or financial advice.**
Summary
Financing & Investments: Halogen Capital Raises $3.2M for Real-World Asset Tokenization in Malaysia; Galatek Secures $30M Series A to Expand AI-Driven Lab Automation; January Capital Closes $130M Growth Credit Fund for APAC Tech Firms; Crypto.com Partners with DBS to Enhance Fiat Payments in Singapore; Olea Global Raises $30M Series A for AI and Web3 Trade Finance Expansion; Aspire Gains Global Licenses to Scale Fintech Platform Across Key Markets; Swedfund Provides $20M Loan to Vietnam’s EVF for MSME and Climate Financing; and FPT Invests $100M to Launch Quantum AI and Cybersecurity Research Institute
Environmental Sustainability: China’s Jiaze Invests $490M in Green Hydrogen Alcohol Aviation Fuel Project; Kuva Space and WWF-Indonesia Partner to Monitor Blue Carbon Ecosystems; ANA and JAXA Deploy Sensors on Aircraft for Greenhouse Gas Tracking; IFC Supports Malaysia’s Paper Industry with $70M for Biomass Cogeneration; and Yinson Renewables Acquires Mt Cass Wind Farm in New Zealand
Aviation: Virgin Australia Flight Fire Prompts In-Flight Lithium Power Bank Ban; Adani Group Bids to Expand Airport Portfolio in India; South Korea Launches International Aviation Carbon Reduction Plan; Korean Air Cracks Down on Emergency Exit Tampering; Natilus and SpiceJet Partner on Blended-Wing Aircraft for India; and Vietjet Opens $100M Maintenance Facility at Long Thanh Airport
Advanced Air Mobility: Australia Eases Drone Rules Over Populated Areas; EHang Demonstrates EH216-F eVTOL for Firefighting in Qatar; Thailand Reviews EHang EH216-S Operations for Urban Air Mobility; Sino Jet Orders 50 AE200 eVTOLs to Expand 3D Transport Network; GIBO and Japan Benling Partner on AI-Enabled eVTOLs for Disaster Response; Quantified Energy Raises $6M to Scale Drone and AI Solar Inspections; and South Korea Validates Integrated Urban Air Mobility Operations with K-UAM Project
Marine: Japan’s Sage Sagittarius Bulk Carrier Sold for Scrap in Bangladesh; Singapore Launches First Decarbonization Hub for Electric Supply Vessels; Pyxis Secures $10M Funding to Expand Maritime Electrification in ASEAN; Samudera Shipping Expands into Japan via Blue Ocean Joint Venture; and South Korea Develops Floating Nuclear Platform for Small Modular Reactors
Space: China Launches Kuaizhou 11 Carrying DEAR 5 and Xiwang 5B; EU Offers Satellite Support to Monitor Cambodia-Thailand Ceasefire; Indonesia’s Telkomsat Joins Space42 to Advance Direct-to-Device Services; Japan Aborts H3 Rocket Launch Over Launch Pad Anomaly; and Hokkaido Spaceport Partners with Sangikyo to Boost Commercial Operations
Financing & Investments
Asia-Pacific fintech, AI, and digital asset sectors are attracting significant growth and expansion capital, with investments targeting tokenization, lab automation, trade finance, and cross-border payments; development finance and corporate investments in Vietnam and Malaysia emphasize long-term capital access, climate initiatives, and cutting-edge technology, reflecting a convergence of financial innovation and sustainable development.
Malaysia
Malaysia-based digital asset fund manager Halogen Capital Sdn Bhd has completed a $3.2 million funding round, led by Kenanga Investment Bank Berhad, with participation from 500 Global and other investors. Following the round, Kenanga holds a 14.9% stake, becoming the largest institutional shareholder.
💡The financing will support Halogen Capital’s Real-World Asset (RWA) tokenization strategy, covering onshore unit trust funds, bonds, sukuk, private credit, and real estate, aimed at broadening access to investment opportunities traditionally limited to institutional and high-net-worth investors.
Singapore
Singapore-based automation and AI startup Galatek has raised approximately $30 million in Series A funding. Galatek provides AI-driven automation solutions for smart labs, diagnostics, NGS sequencing, drug development, synthetic biology, and advanced semiconductor packaging.
💡The capital will support the company’s development of products for life sciences and advanced semiconductor manufacturing, strengthen its global supply chain, and expand localized capabilities in Europe, North America, and Southeast Asia. The funding will also accelerate deployment of the company’s Abio software platform, which integrates ELN, LIMS, SDMS, and automation to streamline lab operations and data management.
Singapore
Singapore-based multi-strategy investment firm January Capital has completed the oversubscribed final close of its Growth Credit Fund, securing over $130 million in total commitments. The fund attracted a diverse range of institutional investors, including Japanese firms SBI Holdings and GMO Payment Gateway, global fund-of-funds platforms such as Orient Growth Ventures, Australia’s Australian Philanthropic Services Foundation, and earlier anchor investor DEG of the KfW Group.
💡The Growth Credit Fund provides growth-stage, sponsor-backed technology companies in the Asia-Pacific region with senior secured loans of $10–20 million, offering less-dilutive financing alternatives.
Singapore
Singapore-based Crypto.com has expanded its fiat payment capabilities through a partnership with DBS Bank, the country’s largest bank by assets. The collaboration allows Crypto.com users in Singapore to deposit and withdraw SGD and USD via additional banking channels and supports the creation of client money accounts for faster transfers through the Crypto.com App.
💡The move complements the company’s existing partnership with Standard Chartered Bank, providing wider banking infrastructure for local customers.
Singapore
Singapore-based digital trade finance platform Olea Global Pte Ltd has completed a $30 million Series A funding roundled by Banco Bilbao Vizcaya Argentaria (BBVA), with participation from XDC Network, theDOCK, and existing shareholder SC Ventures. The capital will support the development of AI-driven analytics, Web3 readiness, embedded finance solutions, and expansion into high-growth markets.
💡The round follows a funding facility announced in November 2024, enabling Olea to scale its institutional-grade platform across over 70 trade corridors and deliver financing for more than $3 billion in global supplier and buyer transactions.
Singapore-Global
Singapore-headquartered fintech Aspire has secured a series of regulatory approvals supporting its global expansion across Australia, Europe, and the United States. The company obtained a full Australian Financial Services License (AFSL), an Electronic Money Institution (EMI) license in the European Union, and registered in the U.S. as a Money Services Business and with the SEC as a Registered Investment Adviser.
💡The milestones enable Aspire to offer its integrated financial platform—including multicurrency accounts, payments, cards, and spend services—to businesses across key international markets.
Sweden-Vietnam
Sweden-based development finance institution Swedfund is providing Vietnamese financial services firm EVF General Finance JSC with a loan of up to $20 million. The financing is aimed at expanding access to long-term capital for micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) in Vietnam, where long-term financing remains limited despite rapid economic growth and rising energy demand. Portions of the loan are earmarked for climate-related projects and women-owned enterprises.
💡The investment forms part of a $40 million financing package arranged by Swedfund and OeEB. Around 40% of the proceeds are designated for renewable energy and climate mitigation initiatives, while 30% are targeted toward women-owned businesses. The loan is intended to support EVF’s efforts to scale lending to underfinanced MSMEs and promote sustainable economic development.
Vietnam
Vietnam’s FPT Corporation is investing $100 million to establish the Quantum AI and Cyber Security Research Institute (QACI), one of the first quantum-focused research centers created by a Vietnamese company. The institute will conduct research, develop AI and cybersecurity solutions, and train specialists, supporting the country’s drive for technological independence. The investment is part of FPT’s broader organization of five units, including UAVs, railway mobility technology, cybersecurity, and data platforms, aimed at advancing innovation across critical technology sectors.
💡FPT has appointed leadership to oversee each unit, including initiatives in quantum computing, AI, and low-altitude aviation.
Environmental Sustainability
Sustainable aviation and energy projects are expanding across Asia-Pacific, from China’s green hydrogen SAF initiative to aircraft-based carbon monitoring in Japan; blue carbon and renewable energy investments in Indonesia, Malaysia, and New Zealand highlight a growing focus on nature-based solutions, circular economy practices, and clean electricity generation.
China
China-listed Jiaze New Energy announced that its subsidiary will invest approximately RMB 3.56 billion ($490 million) in a 300,000 metric tons per year green hydrogen alcohol aviation fuel co-production project in Jidong County, Jixi City, Heilongjiang Province. The project, developed by Heilongjiang Jiayi Rongyuan Green Chemical, a wholly owned unit of Jiaze’s holding company, will co-produce alcohol-based aviation fuels using green hydrogen, reflecting growing interest in sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) alternatives.
💡Construction will be financed through a combination of internal capital and external funding, with phased deployment based on project progress.
Indonesia
Kuva Space and WWF-Indonesia have partnered to use hyperspectral satellites and AI to monitor mangrove and seagrass ecosystems, supporting Indonesia’s blue carbon initiatives. The collaboration maps restoration sites in East Nusa Tenggara and East Kalimantan, generating data for ecosystem health, carbon accounting, and sustainable financing.
💡By combining Kuva Space’s advanced spaceborne technology with WWF-Indonesia’s field experience, the project aims to enhance transparency, enable verified blue carbon credits, benefit local communities, and support Indonesia’s climate goals, including Nationally Determined Contributions and the FOLU Net Sink Strategy, while promoting the growth of the country’s blue economy.
Japan
ANA Holdings and Japan’s space agency, JAXA, are using sensors on commercial jets to enhance monitoring of greenhouse gas emissions. The equipment, tested since 2020, is now installed on a modified section of a Boeing 737 operated by ANA to track gases such as carbon dioxide, providing more detailed measurements than some satellites.
💡The airline and JAXA plan to equip another domestic aircraft with similar sensors, exploring potential commercial applications for the data.
Malaysia
The World Bank Group’s private sector arm, the International Finance Corporation (IFC), has partnered with Malaysia’s XSD International Paper Sdn Bhd to support sustainable growth in the country’s paper industry. IFC has provided a $70 million financing package, including a $28 million green loan, to fund XSD’s construction of a biomass cogeneration plant in Kulim, Kedah, and to expand production capacity. The new facility will enable the company to produce an additional 300,000 tons of coated duplex board and grey board annually, bringing total capacity to 800,000 tons.
💡IFC said the partnership will promote environmentally responsible manufacturing through the use of recycled materials and renewable energy, advancing Malaysia’s circular economy.
Malaysia-New Zealand
Malaysia-based Yinson Renewables has acquired the rights to the Mt Cass Wind Farm from MainPower New Zealand Limited. Construction is expected to begin in early 2026, with operations slated for 2028. The project will have a total installed capacity of 94.6 MW and is expected to generate over 300 GWh of electricity annually, enough to supply roughly 40,000 households.
💡This will be Yinson Renewables’ first wind farm under construction and its first in New Zealand.
Aviation
Lithium battery fire risks are reshaping airline safety policies globally; India is rapidly expanding airport infrastructure to meet rising passenger demand; South Korea combines SAF adoption and fuel-efficient aircraft to cut aviation emissions; airlines are enforcing stricter passenger compliance rules; new aircraft designs and maintenance hubs indicate long-term modernization and sustainability trends in aviation.
Australia
The Australian Transport Safety Bureau (ATSB) has confirmed that a lithium power bank caused a fire aboard Virgin Australia flight VA1528 from Sydney to Hobart. The device entered a “thermal runaway” state in an overhead bin, producing smoke and flames that were extinguished by cabin crew and passengers. The incident occurred shortly before landing, limiting the crew’s ability to fully execute standard lithium battery fire procedures.
💡Following the report, Virgin Australia, Qantas, and Jetstar have banned the use or charging of lithium power banks in-flight, aligning with global carriers including Singapore Airlines, Scoot, Thai Airways, and EVA Air.
India
The Adani Group plans to expand its airport portfolio by bidding for 11 government-owned airports, part of an $11 billion airport infrastructure initiative. The airports, including sites in Amritsar and Varanasi, are being offered for long-term private leasing. Adani Airports Holdings, currently managing seven airports and soon opening a new facility near Mumbai, intends to participate in all upcoming bids.
💡The expansion aligns with India’s broader aviation growth, as the government aims to increase the number of airports to 350–400 by 2047 amid rising passenger demand. Adani Group said it has no plans to enter the airline business, focusing instead on developing and operating airport infrastructure efficiently to capitalize on the sector’s growth.
South Korea
South Korea has launched its first plan to manage international aviation carbon emissions for 2026–2030, targeting a 10% reduction from projected levels by 2030. The initiative, led by the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport in coordination with other government agencies, aligns with the International Civil Aviation Organization’s CORSIA framework. Without interventions, international aviation emissions in South Korea are projected to rise from 23.3 million tons in 2025 to nearly 29.8 million tons by 2030. The plan aims to reduce this to 25.87 million tons through a combination of measures.
💡The reduction strategy includes mandating the use of at least 1% sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) from 2027, promoting eco-friendly aircraft with roughly 10% better fuel efficiency, and improving operational efficiency, such as reducing taxiing and waiting times. SAF, which can cut carbon emissions by up to 80% compared to conventional fuel, will account for 4% of the emissions reduction target, while fuel-efficient aircraft will deliver 5%.
South Korea
Korean Air has announced a zero-tolerance policy for passengers who tamper with aircraft emergency exits, warning that violators may face criminal charges. The airline cited a rise in such incidents, with 14 cases of exit tampering or attempted tampering reported over the past two years.
💡Under Korea’s Aviation Security Act, unauthorized interference with aircraft doors, exits, or onboard equipment is prohibited and can carry penalties of up to 10 years in prison. Korean Air said it will pursue criminal prosecution, seek compensation for damages, and impose travel bans on passengers who violate these rules.
USA-India
US aerospace start-up Natilus and Indian carrier SpiceJet have formed a partnership to introduce blended-wing-body (BWB) aircraft in India. Under the agreement, Natilus will establish a subsidiary, Natilus Indian SpiceJet will support Natilus in obtaining certification from India’s aviation regulator with a potential order of 100 Horizon blended-wing aircraft once certification is achieved.
💡The Horizon passenger aircraft is designed to carry 240 passengers. Natilus is pursuing FAA Part 25 certification for Horizon and is also developing a cargo-only BWB aircraft, Kona. Horizon is expected to enter the market in the early 2030s; Natilus’ current commercial order book totals over 570 aircraft, valued at $8.7 billion.
Vietnam
Vietjet has marked two achievements at Long Thanh International Airport with the topping-out of its international-standard aircraft maintenance facility and the launch of its inaugural flight to the airport. The hangar project, part of the Aircraft Maintenance and Engineering Centre, spans 8.4 hectares with an investment of $100 million and includes Hangars No. 3 and No. 4, designed to accommodate up to six narrow-body and two wide-body aircraft simultaneously.
💡Designed by UK-based Mace and France’s Apave, the facility features ultra-long-span steel structures meeting global aviation standards.
Advanced Air Mobility
Global AAM adoption is accelerating with regulatory easing in Australia and real-world demonstrations in Qatar, Thailand, and South Korea; investment and partnerships are driving eVTOL commercialization for transport, emergency response, and infrastructure monitoring; AI and autonomous systems are central to enhancing operational safety, efficiency, and environmental mapping across multiple regions.
Australia
Australia’s Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) has updated exemptions for drone operations over populated areas. Operators and pilots with existing approvals to fly close to people or within another person’s safety zone may no longer need separate authorization for some flights over crowded areas. The measure applies to very small, small, and medium remotely piloted aircraft, while all other Part 101 rules and approved operational conditions remain in force.
💡CASA also announced a trial allowing chief remote pilot instructors to obtain a generic rating for medium drones, removing the need for separate flight tests for each aircraft model.
China-Qatar
EHang’s EH216-F eVTOL performed a firefighting and emergency rescue demonstration at Qatar National Day, invited by the Qatar Ministry of Interior. EHang said the demonstration contributes to technology validation, scenario testing, and ecosystem development for urban air mobility.
💡The operation is intended to support future integration of eVTOL services for passenger transport and emergency response in Qatar.
China-Thailand
A delegation from the Civil Aviation Authority of Thailand (CAAT) visited EHang’s EH216-S operational base in Shanghai to review autonomous eVTOL commercial operations. The visit included observation of the aircraft’s technology, safety procedures, and operational protocols.
💡The visit follows Thailand’s AAM sandbox program and ongoing EH216-S trial flights in Bangkok, including a previous flight with the CAAT Director General. EHang’s operational experience provides a reference model for potential development and commercialization of urban air mobility in Thailand.
Hong Kong-Mainland China
Business aviation company Sino Jet has signed a definitive contract to acquire 50 AE200 eVTOL aircraft from China-based Aerofugia. Announced at AERO Asia 2025, the agreement advances Sino Jet’s plan to integrate eVTOL aircraft into a three-dimensional transportation network, combining long-haul business aviation with short-haul low-altitude mobility.
💡The AE200 features a 230 km/h cruise speed and a 200 km operational radius. The partnership builds on a 2023 memorandum for 100 eVTOL aircraft inked between the two sides.
Malaysia-Japan
GIBO Holdings Ltd. has partnered with Japan Benling Zhushi Clubs Limited to develop crewed eVTOL aircraft with advanced AI for disaster response, search-and-rescue, geological exploration, and hazardous environments. The collaboration will combine GIBO’s AI computation and autonomous sensing with Japan Benling’s expertise in lightweight structures and electric propulsion, enabling real-time environmental mapping, thermal sensing, terrain analysis, and autonomous flight-path optimization.
💡The companies plan to expand development across Japan, Southeast Asia, and other international markets, working with emergency response and infrastructure agencies. GIBO is also advancing AI compute centers and a 30MW data facility in Malaysia, and partnering with Ricloud AI Inc. to extend AI cloud and sustainability applications under the SparkRWA Green Creator Framework.
Singapore
Asian Development Bank Ventures (ADB Ventures) and Beacon Venture Capital have joined the second close of Singapore-based Quantified Energy’s Series A round, bringing total funding to $6 million. The investment supports the expansion of QE’s drone- and AI-powered electroluminescence inspection technology, which detects hidden defects in solar modules to improve quality assurance and long-term performance. The funding builds on backing from Vertex Ventures Southeast Asia & India and reinforces institutional confidence in data-driven approaches to renewable energy finance.
💡QE’s technology, deployed across Asia and other regions, has inspected more than four million solar modules, including the world’s largest single-site electroluminescence inspection.
South Korea
The Republic of Korea’s Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport (MOLIT) has verified the integrated operational capabilities of private consortia through the K-UAM demonstration project on the Ara Waterway and Cheongna-Gyeyang section. The exercises tested urban air mobility (UAM) operations, traffic management, vertiport systems, and abnormal situation responses in real-world conditions.
💡The demonstration involved the K-UAM One Team (KT, Korean Air, Incheon International Airport Corporation, Hyundai Motor Company, Hyundai E&C) and the Dream Team (Korea Airports Corporation, Hanwha Systems), with support from the Air Force. Key achievements included functional inter-agency information sharing, stable 5G and traffic management system performance, and reliable autonomous navigation via multi-satellite, anti-jamming technology tested on an Optionally Piloted Personal Air Vehicle (OPPAV).
Marine
Maritime electrification is accelerating in Singapore with new hubs, vessel deployments, and funding rounds driving decarbonization; regional shipping networks are consolidating, as seen in Samudera’s Japan expansion; South Korea is innovating with offshore nuclear solutions, while legacy vessels like Sage Sagittarius continue exiting the fleet, reflecting lifecycle turnover trends in global shipping.
Japan-Bangladesh
Nippon Yusen Kaisha’s post-panamax bulk carrier Sage Sagittarius, 25 years old, has been sold for scrap in Bangladesh at $430 per light displacement ton (ldt). The vessel gained notoriety in Australia over a decade ago after three crew members died under unusual circumstances.
💡In 2012, head chef Cesar Llanto disappeared off the coast of Cairns, and his body was never recovered. Chief engineer Hector Collado died two weeks later from head injuries sustained aboard the ship near Newcastle, while Kosaku Monji was crushed by a conveyor belt at Kudamatsu port in Japan. The ship’s captain, Venancio Salas, faced accusations of crew mistreatment, including physical assaults, as well as alleged involvement in firearms transactions.
Singapore
Yinson GreenTech’s marinEV has partnered with Toll Group to launch Singapore’s first decarbonization hub for electric supply vessels. The initiative will deploy marinEV’s Hydromover 2.0 over the next 12 months as part of Toll’s integrated electric logistics model, combining smart warehousing, coordinated trucking, and a digitally connected supply chain. Early modelling suggests the project could cut emissions by up to 80% per trip, demonstrating the potential of electrifying harbor craft operations at scale.
💡marinEV also signed a letter of intent with SG Shipping for two fully electric vessels to operate in Singapore.
Singapore
Maritime electrification startup Pyxis has secured S$13 million ($10.06 million) in the first close of its S$18 million ($13.94 million) growth funding round. The financing is supported by climate-tech, venture capital, and maritime strategic investors, including MOL PLUS, Shift4Good, Motion Ventures, and SG Growth Capital. The funding will support vessel production, expansion of Pyxis’ Electra energy management platform, and deployment of ultra-fast marine charging infrastructure across Singapore, Japan, and ASEAN markets.
💡Pyxis is increasing manufacturing capacity for its Pyxis One, R, and L series vessels and developing next-generation charging stations, including a 300 kW facility planned for early 2026. The company has received 17 vessel orders and is partnering with regional operators and government agencies to accelerate maritime electrification.
Singapore-Japan
Singapore-listed Samudera Shipping Line is expanding its presence in Japan through a joint venture with Imoto Corporation, part of the Imoto Lines Group. The new company, Blue Ocean Shipping, will be 51% owned by Samudera Japan and 49% by Imoto, focusing on coastal and regional shipping services. Operations will begin with two container vessels transferred from Imoto Lines, with plans to gradually expand the fleet. The venture is headquartered in Kobe and is expected to start operations in the first half of 2026.
💡The partnership combines Samudera’s regional liner and feeder expertise with Imoto Lines’ domestic network, which covers over 75% of Japan’s feeder market and 64 ports nationwide. The joint venture aims to capture growth opportunities in coastal trades and short-sea regional services, providing Samudera with a local Japanese platform that complements its broader North Asian and regional shipping network.
South Korea
Samsung Heavy Industries (SHI) has developed a floating nuclear power platform, FSMR, capable of hosting multiple types of small modular reactors (SMRs). The design, approved in principle by ABS, accommodates two SMART 100 SMRs and integrates the reactor with offshore power-generation systems, including a multi-barrier containment structure. Its compartmentalized layout groups reactor and power systems by function, allowing different SMR types to be installed with minimal modification.
💡FSMRs can be assembled and tested onshore before offshore deployment, supporting faster construction schedules and versatile applications across diverse reactor configurations.
Space
China’s private space sector continues rapid growth with multi-payload experimental missions; international actors increasingly use satellites for conflict monitoring and verification; Southeast Asia is exploring integration of terrestrial and satellite 5G networks; Japan faces recurring launch system technical challenges while expanding regional commercial space infrastructure.
China
China successfully launched a Kuaizhou 11 carrier rocket from the Jiuquan Space Launch Center, deploying a privately developed experimental cargo spacecraft, DEAR 5, along with the Xiwang 5B satellite into their designated orbits. The launch was conducted by China Aerospace Science and Industry Corporation, the state-owned manufacturer of the Kuaizhou rocket series, and marked another milestone for China’s expanding private space sector.
DEAR 5, developed by Beijing-based AZSpace, is the second spacecraft in the company’s B300-L series, featuring a service cabin and a payload capsule capable of carrying up to 300 kilograms. Positioned 343 kilometers above Earth, it hosts 34 scientific payloads from universities, research institutions, and private enterprises, supporting experiments in microgravity physics, life sciences, material science, and space technology.
💡The spacecraft also includes “mini space labs” for education and research, aiming to serve as a versatile orbital platform for scientists and commercial users for at least one year.
Europe-Cambodia-Thailand
The European Union has offered to provide satellite imagery to help monitor the ceasefire between Cambodia and Thailand, urging both sides to immediately halt further escalation. Kaja Kallas, EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy and Vice-President of the European Commission, emphasized that the conflict must not be allowed to worsen and stressed the urgent need to restore the ceasefire.
💡Kallas highlighted that satellite imagery could provide independent, objective information to verify developments on the ground and reduce the risk of misunderstandings. She conveyed the EU’s offer during talks with the foreign ministers of Cambodia and Thailand, focusing on de-escalation and practical measures to support compliance with the ceasefire.
Indonesia
Indonesia’s PT Telkom Satelit Indonesia (Telkomsat) has signed a memorandum of understanding with Space42 to explore direct-to-device (D2D) services in partnership with the Equatys joint venture. Telkomsat is the first publicly announced satellite operator to join Equatys, which was launched by Viasat and Space42 to develop shared mobile satellite spectrum (MSS) infrastructure for non-terrestrial network (NTN) connectivity.
💡Under the agreement, Telkomsat and Space42 will assess technical, commercial, and regulatory collaboration opportunities, including licensing, spectrum coordination, R&D, and infrastructure alignment. The companies aim to enable seamless handover between terrestrial and satellite networks, set service benchmarks for latency, bandwidth, and reliability, and advance 5G NTN capabilities. Equatys plans to begin D2D services within three years using a mix of existing MSS satellites and future low-Earth orbit satellites.
Japan
Japan’s space agency, JAXA, canceled the launch of its eighth H3 rocket carrying the Michibiki No. 5 satellite from Tanegashima Space Center after an emergency shutdown occurred just before liftoff. The rocket automatically halted following an anomaly detected in the launch pad’s water-injection cooling system.
💡JAXA said the cause of the malfunction is under investigation and no date has been set for a rescheduled launch. The agency confirmed that neither the H3 rocket nor the Michibiki No. 5 satellite sustained any damage.
Japan
SPACE COTAN Co., Ltd., operator of Hokkaido Spaceport (HOSPO), has entered into a collaboration agreement with Sangikyo Corporation and Sangikyo EOS Corporation to support the spaceport’s commercial operations. The partnership leverages Sangikyo’s and Sangikyo EOS’s experience in managing ground stations for Japan’s primary launch vehicles, including support for jtSPACE’s VP01 suborbital rocket launch at HOSPO. Under the agreement, the companies will work together on developing a ground station network, applying their technical capabilities, and defining their roles in HOSPO’s operations phase.
💡HOSPO, developed in partnership with Taiki Town, aims to become a hub for high-frequency launches and foster a “Space Silicon Valley” by clustering space-related industries in Hokkaido. The agreement is intended to accelerate the spaceport’s operational readiness and contribute to the growth of Japan’s regional space industry.
**Nothing in this article is intended to be or should be construed as legal or financial advice.**