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.**
Read
The Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS) has released a consultation paper proposing new Guidelines on AI Risk Management for financial institutions. The guidelines outline supervisory expectations for sector-wide oversight of AI use, including governance responsibilities for boards and senior management, firm-wide AI identification processes, and maintenance of AI inventories and risk assessments.
MAS also proposes controls across the AI lifecycle covering data management, fairness, transparency, human oversight, third-party risks, testing and monitoring. The guidance is intended to be proportionate to an institution’s scale and risk profile and applies to use cases ranging from traditional models to generative AI and AI agents. MAS is seeking public feedback until 31 January 2026.
Summary
Financing & Investments: Cambodia and China Link Digital Payment Systems via Bakong and Weixin Pay; XTransfer and Maybank Partner on Shariah-Compliant Cross-Border Payments; MAS Trials Wholesale CBDC for Interbank Settlements; GenAI Fund Launches $6M AI Accelerator for Enterprise Startups; Singapore-Cambodia Enable Cross-Border QR Payments in Khmer Riel; AI Assistant Startup The Librarian Raises $2M Seed Round; and AI Chipmaker d-Matrix Secures $275M Series C at $2B Valuation
Environmental Sustainability: SECI Receives Orders for Battery Storage and Hybrid Solar Projects in Andhra Pradesh; TruAlt Bioenergy to Build Major SAF Facility in India; India and Bhutan Sign Renewable Energy Collaboration; Pengerang Biorefinery Begins Construction of SAF and Biofuel Facility in Malaysia; Singapore to Introduce SAF Levy from 2026; Aster and Aether Fuels to Build Southeast Asia’s First Commercial-Scale SAF Plant; and SCSA-IPA Urges Global Action on Tibet’s Accelerating Climate Crisis
Aviation: AAPA Projects Strong Asia-Pacific Air Traffic Growth Through 2026; Guangzhou Baiyun Airport Opens Terminal 3 Boosting Connectivity; Airbus Launches Second A320 Final Assembly Line in Tianjin; Malaysia Airlines Plans Replacement of A350 Fleet with New Long-Haul Aircraft; and AOT Sees Strong Investor Demand for Commercial Land Across Six Thai Airports
Advanced Air Mobility: FlyOnE Gains CASA Approval to Expand Electric Aircraft Operations in Australia; TCab Tech Raises $43M to Scale E20 eVTOL Deployment in China; EHang Partners with CAST to Advance China’s Low-Altitude Aviation Ecosystem; EHang Showcases EH216-S eVTOL During King of Spain’s State Visit to China; and Joby Aviation Signs $250M Deal to Supply eVTOLs for Kazakhstan
Marine: Bangladesh Shipping Corporation Expands Fleet with Two Ultramax Bulkers; SDHI and Rederiet Stenersen to Build Hybrid Chemical Tankers; JERA Nex BP Opens Hydrogen Refuelling Station in Port of Ostend; Singapore Passenger Ferry Collides with Product Tanker; and Hai An Orders Largest Containerships to Date
Space: Astronauts Return Safely After Extended Space Station Mission; Kyoto Fusioneering Advances Tritium Recovery for Fusion Fuel Cycle; LG and South 8 Technologies Develop Ultra-Cold Space Batteries; Satellite Data to Monitor National Infrastructure Projects; and Thailand Rejects SpaceX Starlink Proposal Over Ownership Rules
Financing & Investments
From interoperable QR payments and Shariah-compliant FX to wholesale CBDC and AI accelerator funding, the region is rapidly expanding digital finance and AI ecosystems.
Cambodia-China
The National Bank of Cambodia (NBC) and TenPay Global have signed an MOU to link Cambodia’s Bakong KHQR system with China’s Weixin Pay network, aiming to expand the use of secure and interoperable digital payments between the two countries. NBC said the partnership will support cross-border payments and remittances in both directions and promote wider adoption of local currencies.
💡The agreement also covers broader cooperation on financial sector development and payment innovation.
Malaysia-China
China-based B2B payments platform XTransfer and Malaysia’s Maybank have formed a strategic partnership to expand cross-border payment services and develop Shariah-compliant solutions. The companies said the collaboration will combine their payment, foreign-exchange and digital capabilities to offer automated, real-time transaction processing across major ASEAN markets, as well as in Hong Kong, the United Kingdom and the United States.
💡The partnership aims to address rising demand for Islamic finance offerings by exploring Shariah-compliant FX and payment products. XTransfer said the deal strengthens its regional coverage and multi-currency settlement capabilities, while Maybank said it supports its strategy to serve growing ASEAN-China trade flows and provide merchants with more efficient cross-border payment and collection options.
Singapore
The Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS) has completed a live trial of interbank overnight lending settlement using wholesale central bank digital currency on the Singapore Dollar Test Network. The test, conducted with DBS, OCBC and UOB, marked the first live issuance of Singapore dollar wholesale CBDC, with transactions reflected in banks’ official records and regulatory filings.
💡MAS said the testnet provides a shared ledger for issuing and settling wholesale CBDC, supports programmable payment logic for real-time execution of contractual terms, and enables atomic settlement of cash and securities to reduce risk. The regulator plans a future trial involving tokenized MAS Bills settled with CBDC, with further details expected in 2026.
Singapore
Singapore-based GenAI Fund has allocated $6 million to six startups selected for the first cohort of its FastTrack AI Accelerator. The program pairs companies including Blaze AI, Life AI, Ourteam, Presight, Revve AI and Tribee with large Southeast Asian enterprises to co-develop and pilot AI projects. GenAI Fund said the cohort was chosen from more than 300 global applicants and will receive cloud and GPU resources, technical support, investment evaluation and access to over 100 corporations through its innovation network.
💡GenAI Fund said all six startups have secured paid proof-of-concept projects and are undergoing investment review. The accelerator targets faster enterprise adoption for AI firms in sectors such as finance, healthcare and retail. Corporations participating in Cohort 1 include Coca-Cola Beverages Vietnam and major regional financial and mobility companies. Applications for FastTrack Cohort 2 are now open.
Singapore-Cambodia
Singapore and Cambodia have launched the first phase of their cross-border QR payment linkage, enabling Cambodian travelers to pay in Singapore using Khmer Riel accounts. The National Bank of Cambodia said users can now make real-time payments by scanning RoamQR codes at SGQR merchants through the Bakong app or participating mobile banking apps, removing the need for cash exchange or cards.
💡The initiative—driven by Acleda Bank, Phillip Bank and Liquid Group—aims to expand the use of local currencies and strengthen digital payment connectivity between the two countries. Officials said the project supports broader ASEAN goals for an interoperable regional payments network and advances Cambodia’s financial inclusion and integration efforts.
USA-Singapore
Seattle- and Singapore-based AI assistant startup The Librarian has raised $2 million in seed funding led by Golden Gate Ventures, with participation from angel investors including Yelp Chief Executive Jeremy Stoppelman and Twenty Five Ventures. The company said the funds will support product development, expand integrations, and grow its engineering and go-to-market teams.
💡The Librarian, which positions itself as a chat- and voice-driven productivity tool, reports 25,000 active users across the United States, Europe and Singapore. The firm said demand is rising among professionals seeking task execution across platforms without setup or dashboards.
USA-Singapore
U.S.-based AI chipmaker d-Matrix has raised $275 million in an oversubscribed Series C round, valuing the company at $2 billion and bringing its total funding to $450 million. The round was co-led by BullhoundCapital, Triatomic Capital and Temasek, with new backing from the Qatar Investment Authority and EDBI, and follow-on participation from M12 and other existing investors. The company said the funding will support product development, global expansion and large-scale deployments of its data center inference platform.
💡D-Matrix focuses on inference hardware and software, offering systems it claims deliver significantly higher performance and efficiency than GPU-based setups.
Environmental Sustainability
Large-scale SAF plants, battery storage, and cross-border renewables signal a fast-moving regional energy transition, with Tibet underscoring the urgency of climate action.
India
Solar Energy Corporation of India (SECI) has received formal government orders from Andhra Pradesh for two major renewable energy projects: a 1,200 MWh battery energy storage system in Nandyal and a 50 MW hybrid solar project. The exchange took place at the Andhra Pradesh Partnership Summit 2025, following the Ministry of Power’s appointment of SECI as the implementing agency for the storage project and ongoing monitoring by the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy.
💡Both projects will be developed under the CAPEX model, with SECI taking full investment responsibility. State officials handed over the orders during the event, marking a step toward expanding Andhra Pradesh’s clean-energy infrastructure. SECI said the initiatives will strengthen grid resilience and support India’s transition toward storage-enabled renewable power.
India
TruAlt Bioenergy Limited has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the Andhra Pradesh Economic Development Board to develop one of the world’s largest sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) facilities in the Srikakulam–Vizianagaram region. The proposed 80,000-tonne-per-annum plant will cost approximately ₹2,250 crore and is expected to create over 500 direct jobs and nearly 2,000 indirect jobs, boosting regional industrial growth.
💡The facility will use TruAlt’s ethanol-to-SAF capability via the Alcohol-to-Jet Synthetic Paraffinic Kerosene (ATJ-SPK) pathway, converting sugar-based feedstock into low-emission, ICAO-certified jet fuel.
India-Bhutan
The governments of Bhutan and India have signed an agreement to collaborate on renewable energy during Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to Bhutan on November 11. The partnership, between Bhutan’s Ministry of Energy and Natural Resources and India’s Ministry of New and Renewable Energy, will focus on developing solar, wind, biomass, green hydrogen, and energy storage projects, leveraging India’s technical expertise and Bhutan’s natural energy potential.
💡The agreement builds on the two countries’ longstanding cooperation in hydropower and aims to expand Bhutan’s clean energy capacity while enhancing energy security. India also announced a line of credit of INR 4,000 crore to support the renewable energy projects, with joint research, training, and technology sharing expected to strengthen economic and regional ties.
Malaysia
Pengerang Biorefinery Sdn. Bhd., a joint venture between PETRONAS, Enilive S.p.A., and Euglena Co., Ltd., has begun construction of a new biorefinery in Pengerang, Johor. The facility will process up to 650,000 metric tons of renewable feedstock annually to produce sustainable aviation fuel (SAF), hydrogenated vegetable oil, and bio-naphtha, using waste materials such as used cooking oil, animal fats, and vegetable oil by-products.
💡Operations are expected to start in the second half of 2028.
Singapore
The Civil Aviation Authority of Singapore (CAAS) will introduce a SAF Levy for all flights departing Singapore from 1 October 2026, with tickets or services sold from 1 April 2026. The levy applies to passengers, origin-destination cargo, and general or business aviation, and is designed to cover the cost premium of SAF over conventional jet fuel to meet Singapore’s 1% SAF target for 2026.
Passenger levies vary by distance and cabin, ranging from S$1 for economy flights to Southeast Asia to S$10.40 for economy flights to the Americas, with premium cabins charged four times the economy rate. Cargo and business aviation levies are set per kilogram or per aircraft, depending on distance and size. Certain flights, such as training or humanitarian missions, are exempt.
💡Funds collected will go into a statutory SAF Fund managed by CAAS and administered by Singapore Sustainable Aviation Fuel Company Ltd. (SAFCo) to procure SAF and related environmental attributes.
Singapore-USA
Aster and U.S.-based Aether Fuels have agreed to build Southeast Asia’s first next-generation, commercial-scale SAF facility on Pulau Bukom in Singapore. The project, known as Project Beacon, will use Aether’s Aurora technology to convert industrial waste gas and biomethane into CORSIA-certified SAF, targeting more than 70% lower greenhouse-gas emissions than conventional jet fuel. The plant is slated to begin construction in 2026 and start operations in 2028, producing up to 50 barrels per day.
💡Aster will supply renewable power, waste-carbon feedstock and site support from its integrated refining and chemicals hub to accelerate Aether’s commercialization efforts.
Tibet
The Stockholm Center for South Asian and Indo-Pacific Affairs (SCSA-IPA) has urged global climate institutions to prioritise Tibet’s accelerating climate crisis. At COP30 in Brazil, the delegation highlighted that the Tibetan Plateau, or “Third Pole,” is warming nearly three times faster than the global average, with glacial retreat, permafrost loss, and river disruptions threatening water security for nearly two billion people across South and Southeast Asia.
💡SCSA-IPA called on COP30 and BRICS nations to formally recognise Tibet as an ecological hotspot and strengthen transboundary cooperation on hydrology, early warning systems, and biodiversity. The group warned that expanding hydro-infrastructure and mining heighten ecological and geopolitical risks, emphasizing that global climate action will remain incomplete without addressing Tibet’s environmental challenges.
Aviation
Asia-Pacific aviation shows strong growth, with rising passenger and cargo demand, new airport and assembly-line infrastructure, fleet renewal, and high investor interest in airport commercial land.
Asia-Pacific
The Association of Asia Pacific Airlines (AAPA) concluded the 69th Assembly of Presidents expressing confidence in regional air transport growth through 2026, underpinned by resilient economies and strong passenger and cargo demand. Despite geopolitical and trade tensions,
Asia Pacific carriers saw international passenger traffic rise 10% and air cargo demand expand 7% in the first nine months of 2025, outpacing global averages. AAPA emphasized the need for supply chain resilience, sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) deployment, and workforce strengthening, while cautioning that tariffs and limited SAF availability could affect growth.
💡The Assembly adopted resolutions targeting 5% SAF use by 2030, circular economy practices in maintenance and materials, lithium battery safety, and cost-related taxes aligned with ICAO guidance.
China
Guangzhou Baiyun International Airport has opened Terminal 3, with China Eastern Airlines flight MU630 to Beijing Daxing marking its first departure. The terminal features 199 check-in counters, 60 self-service kiosks, 87 jet bridges, advanced RFID-enabled security, and nearly 2,800 parking spaces, expanding the airport to five runways and three terminals.
💡China’s first large-scale hub with full BIM construction management and digital archives, Terminal 3 has launched over 30 international routes and supports 10,700 weekly flights. The terminal enhances Baiyun Airport’s role as a key hub in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area, boosting regional and global connectivity.
France-China
Airbus has begun operations at a second final assembly line for its A320 Family aircraft in Tianjin, China, with full operational status expected by early 2026. The facility, established under an April 2023 agreement with the Tianjin Free Trade Zone Investment Company and Aviation Industry Corporation of China, follows Airbus’s global standards and integrates renewable electricity, reclaimed water, and geothermal energy. The new line increases Airbus’s total final assembly sites to ten, including locations in Germany, France, the US, and Tianjin, supporting the target of assembling 75 A320 Family aircraft per month by 2027.
💡The Tianjin site, Airbus’s first production facility outside Europe, has delivered over 780 A320 Family aircraft since 2008.
Malaysia
Malaysia Airlines plans to issue a request-for-proposal (RFP) for new long-haul widebody aircraft before the end of 2025, aiming to finalize its selection by mid-Q1 2026, CEO Izham Ismail said. The new aircraft will replace the airline’s seven Airbus A350-900s, which have served intercontinental routes including London and Paris since 2017.
💡Deliveries of the replacement fleet are expected to begin in 2031, though the total number of aircraft to be ordered has not yet been confirmed. The move is part of Malaysia Airlines’ broader fleet renewal strategy to modernize its long-haul operations.
Thailand
Airports of Thailand (AOT) Plc has received strong investor interest in long-term leases for commercial land across its six major airports, including Suvarnabhumi, Don Mueang, Chiang Mai, Mae Fah Luang Chiang Rai, Phuket, and Hat Yai. Following its AOT Property Showcase, proposals for 16 projects are under formal review, covering hotels, MRO centres, mixed-use developments, private jet terminals, logistics hubs, training centres, EV services, and terminal attractions.
💡Key available plots include Suvarnabhumi Airport’s 109-acre Plot B and 41.6-acre Plot E, Hat Yai Airport near Highway SK.4040, and Mae Fah Luang Chiang Rai Airport’s 36.1-acre Front Land Plot, intended to become new economic hubs offering passenger services and commercial opportunities.
Advanced Air Mobility
Asia-Pacific, Australia, and Central Asia accelerate electric and autonomous air mobility, blending regulatory approvals, massive funding, and international partnerships.
Australia
FlyOnE Pty Ltd, Australia’s first electric aviation company, has welcomed a proposed change by the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) that would allow the import and operation of additional Pipistrel electric aircraft for commercial pilot training and passenger transfer services. The amendment to Regulations 21.025 and 21.185 would enable CASA to issue special certificates of airworthiness for foreign non-civil aircraft in the restricted category, extending their use beyond the current sport aviation limits.
💡FlyOnE currently operates its Pipistrel Alpha Electro fleet for recreational and sport training but plans to expand operations under the new framework.
China
Chinese eVTOL manufacturer TCab Tech has secured RMB 300 million (USD 43 million) in Series B++ funding to advance industrial-scale deployment of its E20 aircraft, bringing total funding to over RMB 1 billion ($143 million). The round, co-led by Meridian Capital, HuaHan Capital, and Puhua Capital, supports airworthiness certification, mass production, and global expansion.
💡TCab Tech’s E20, a tilt-prop eVTOL with a 320 km/h cruise speed, 200 km range, and 450 kg payload, has completed over 1,000 flight tests.
China
EHang has signed a strategic cooperation framework agreement with the China Academy of Civil Aviation Science and Technology (CAST) to boost innovation and commercialization in the low-altitude economy. The partnership will focus on UAVs and eVTOL technologies, covering flight safety, operational support, route management, ecosystem development, technology collaboration, and policy and standards formulation.
💡The agreement integrates resources across R&D, manufacturing, operations, and standardization to enhance China’s low-altitude aviation ecosystem. Both parties aim to accelerate technological innovation, promote safe and stable operations of next-generation aircraft, and support the development of industry regulations and standards
China-Spain
EHang announced its participation in events during King Felipe VI of Spain’s state visit to China from November 10–13. The visit marked key anniversaries in China-EU and China-Spain relations, with the King meeting President Xi Jinping and attending the China-Spain Business Advisory Council and Business Forum.
💡EHang Founder Huazhi Hu and COO Victoria Jing Xiang highlighted the company’s EH216-S autonomous eVTOL aircraft and expansion plans in Europe, Latin America, and Africa. The company emphasized collaboration opportunities in advanced air mobility, intelligent manufacturing, smart cities, and sustainable aviation, leveraging Spain’s strategic position and investment environment to strengthen international partnerships and low-altitude aviation solutions.
USA- Kazakhstan
Joby Aviation has signed a letter of intent with Alatau Advance Air Group (AAAG) to supply eVTOL aircraft and services in Kazakhstan, in a deal valued up to $250 million. Supported by a memorandum of understanding with Kazakhstan’s Ministry of Artificial Intelligence and Digital Development, the agreement includes pre-delivery payments and government backing for regulatory protocols and infrastructure to enable air taxi operations.
💡AAAG plans to deploy the aircraft in Alatau City, a 340-square-mile smart city project, while also collaborating with Joby on sourcing local titanium and rare earth materials for manufacturing.
Marine
Asia-Pacific shipping sees fleet expansion, hybrid and hydrogen innovation, and safety incidents, highlighting growth and sustainability alongside ongoing operational risks.
Bangladesh
State-owned Bangladesh Shipping Corporation (BSC) has acquired two 63,700 dwt ultramax bulkers for $76.7 million, marking its first resale purchases and lowering the fleet’s average age. Built at Jingjiang Nanyang Shipbuilding, the vessels are among just three sister ships delivered this year.
💡One ship, Banglar Progoti (ex-XCL Gemini), has already been delivered, while the second remains under its hull number and is linked to Hong Kong’s Peony Shipping and Jiangsu Steamship. With record earnings, BSC plans further fleet expansion under a government-backed renewal program, aiming for a total of 10 ships by mid-2026. The carrier’s fleet, once over 40 vessels, now comprises five dry bulkers and three tankers.
India-Norway
Swan Defence and Heavy Industries (SDHI) has signed a letter of intent with Norway’s Rederiet Stenersen to construct six 18,000 dwt chemical tankers worth approximately $220 million, with an option for six more. The vessels will be built at SDHI’s revived Pipavav shipyard in Gujarat, India’s largest by dry dock capacity.
💡Designed by Marinform and StoGda and classed by DNV, the Ice Class 1A ships feature hybrid propulsion, advanced automation, and the ability to convert to methanol or LNG, with battery capacity upgradeable to 5,000 kWh.
Japan-Belgium
JERA Nex BP, a joint venture between BP and Japan’s utility JERA, has commissioned a hydrogen refuelling station at the Port of Ostend. Initially serving the hydrogen-powered crew transfer vessel Hydrocat 48, the facility can refuel multiple vessels per day and supports decarbonisation of offshore wind operations.
💡The project, developed with over ten partners and coordinated with the Port of Ostend, uses green hydrogen produced from renewable electricity in France and Germany, supplied by Lhyfe. Haskel oversaw construction. JERA Nex BP operates the 165MW Nobelwind offshore wind farm, and the station serves as a demonstration for sustainable maritime operations.
Singapore
The Singapore-registered passenger ferry Horizon 9 collided with the Norden-controlled product tanker La Digue off the Southern Islands. The ferry sustained minor bow damage above the waterline but remained operational, while the tanker reported no damage. There were no injuries, pollution, or disruption to port operations.
💡The Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA) is investigating the incident.
Vietnam-China
Vietnam’s Hai An Transport and Stevedoring has placed an order for up to four 7,100 TEU containerships with Dalian Shipbuilding Industry Co (DSIC), part of China State Shipbuilding Corp, marking the company’s largest vessels to date. The deal was made through Hai An Green Shipping Lines, a joint venture with major shareholder Viconship. Delivery and pricing details have not been disclosed.
💡The newbuilds are part of a six-ship series by DSIC, which now has 14 orders for this mid-size container class. Hai An is rapidly expanding into larger vessels, having also ordered up to four 3,000 TEU ships earlier this year, with first deliveries scheduled for late 2027. Founded in 2009, Hai An operates nearly 20 containerships mainly on intra-Asia routes.
Space
From China’s record-breaking missions to Japan’s fusion breakthroughs and AI-driven oversight in the Philippines, Asia-Pacific is accelerating innovation—though regulatory caution still shapes access.
China
Three Chinese astronauts safely returned to Earth after a nine-day delay caused by damage to their original Shenzhou-20 return capsule, likely from space debris. The crew instead returned aboard the newly arrived Shenzhou-21, which had ferried a replacement team to the Tiangong space station. Their 204-day mission marked the longest stay at China’s station to date.
💡The return capsule deployed a parachute and landed in China’s Gobi Desert, where the astronauts were quickly recovered. Also returning were four mice used in microgravity studies.
Japan
Japan-based Kyoto Fusioneering has begun testing a new hydrogen recovery system at its UNITY-1 facility, a key step toward ensuring a continuous fuel supply for commercial fusion power. The system uses a proprietary Vacuum Sieve Tray (VST) technology to extract tritium—an essential but rare hydrogen isotope—from a liquid lithium-lead alloy. Initial tests use deuterium and hydrogen to validate the process, which increases liquid surface area for efficient gas extraction.
The VST forms part of the company’s larger Fusion Fuel Cycle System, which manages the full tritium supply chain from recovery to storage and reinjection into the reactor. Data from UNITY-1 will guide the design of UNITY-2 in Ontario, Canada—a joint venture with Canadian Nuclear Laboratories—where the full fuel cycle will be demonstrated under fusion-relevant conditions.
💡UNITY-2, now under construction at Chalk River Laboratories, will circulate up to 30 grams of tritium daily, expandable to 100 grams, making it the first facility to test a complete “full-loop” tritium fuel cycle.
South Korea-USA
LG Energy Solution has partnered with U.S. startup South 8 Technologies to co-develop lithium-ion batteries capable of operating at ultra-low temperatures down to –60 °C, targeting aerospace applications. The collaboration is part of a broader initiative involving KULR Technology Group and NASA to create battery solutions for extreme environments in deep space missions.
💡Under the agreement, LG Energy Solution will support the design, testing, and evaluation of battery cells, while South 8 Technologies will manufacture enhanced cells using its proprietary liquefied gas electrolyte technology. The cells will be integrated into KULR’s One Space battery platform, offering improved performance and safety for space operations.
💡The partnership builds on an ongoing collaboration between the companies, which began with LG’s Startup Challenge Program in 2019.
Philippines
The Philippine Space Agency (PhilSA) and Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) has signed a Memorandum of Agreement to use satellite data for monitoring infrastructure projects nationwide. Under the partnership, PhilSA will provide satellite imagery and space-based analytics, drawing from its archives, commercial sources, and open-access data, to track project progress and validate developments on the ground.
💡The collaboration also aims to develop AI- and geospatial-enabled monitoring tools to support evidence-based oversight and promote transparency.
Thailand
Thailand’s Digital Economy and Society Ministry has declined SpaceX’s proposal to offer Starlink satellite internet via a 100% foreign-owned company, citing national security and legal restrictions. Minister Chaichanok Chidchob noted that full foreign ownership is incompatible with Thailand’s telecom laws and could disrupt the local market ecosystem, even if the service targets remote areas.
💡SpaceX had referenced a White House announcement suggesting foreign investment in Thailand could be wholly owned, but the minister said no such directive has been confirmed. Unlike Thailand, Vietnam recently allowed Starlink to operate on a five-year pilot with up to 600,000 subscribers.
**Nothing in this article is intended to be or should be construed as legal or financial advice.**