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00:00My colleagues have just been talking through some of the milestones for China's space development.
00:06You're involved in some of these mega-constellation projects.
00:09Talk to us about the role Galaxy Space is playing in all this.
00:13So we, Galaxy Space, we are a Chinese commercial company.
00:17We are into satellites, so we have some key technologies.
00:20Satellite communication, satellite remote sensing.
00:23So we deliver some products, we also deliver satellites.
00:27So far, we have launched into the space for more than 40 satellites.
00:30And we are going to launch more in the space.
00:33You know, China is actually going very fast for constellations that you mentioned.
00:37There are several mega-constellations coming up.
00:40And it's great that we are in this track and we are making efforts to make our products innovative, cost-efficiency,
00:47so that we can actually also have more contract orders in the short term.
00:52At long term, we want to kind of also make more innovative products for different, let's say, clients,
00:58either domestically or globally.
01:00That's kind of the things that we are doing right now.
01:04Domestically, what are you seeing in terms of the tailwinds from the sort of government policy support
01:10and the ecosystem for the space industry in China?
01:13Yeah, right now I think the policy side are really having a good environment, creating a good environment for private companies,
01:20especially commercial companies like ourselves.
01:23Because space industry is an industry that needs kind of the top policy structure.
01:30And which in China, the Chinese policy is also encouraged the private sector to develop more,
01:36to evolve more in the commercial business of space.
01:39And we are one of the companies who are actually doing great.
01:42And you know in China there is a central government level, there is a provincial level.
01:46I think each level of the administration are doing great to create a good regulation structure for us.
01:53So companies like ourselves are really also enjoying this kind of overall macro environment to develop, to focus on industries.
02:01So I wonder what the potential headwinds you foresee for the company might be.
02:05In terms of you getting all these satellites up there, right?
02:08How are you getting your kit into space? How are you launching all this?
02:11Yeah, so for us, right now we manufacture the satellites.
02:16We then resource for the launchers to launch to the space.
02:21And we consider different options. Depends on different, let's say, rocket providers' quotations or offers, right?
02:30But I think the biggest challenge right now in the industry is also regarding international coordination.
02:38Because for each aircraft launch into the space, you need a kind of spectrum.
02:43You need a coordination among different players. That's where I think we are expecting for more collaboration with different players,
02:51either from the sector or from the government sector.
02:54We need more collaboration with operators or the players from all over the world.
02:59You talk about global players. This is a space, pun unintended, where US, European leaders,
03:07they have been leading in terms of the early deployment of satellites.
03:11What is China's and your company's edge in this?
03:15I think for our company, we started from 2018 as a private company.
03:22So when we started, we evaluated where we can do the best.
03:26Then we found out that it's the key technology we should work on.
03:31So we started working on some of the key technologies in this industry.
03:35For example, the centralized communication technologies.
03:38So we have actually achieved a very well technology breakthroughs in satellites broadband communication,
03:45in satellite direct-to-cell technologies, and also massive solar panel systems.
03:50That's the energy part for the satellites.
03:52So we make those technologies mature enough for deployment.
03:56And then one of the strengths of our company is we try to also make it cost effective.
04:02So we built our in-house facilities, a flexible smart factory to produce satellites.
04:09In that way, we reduce the cost without compromising any performances,
04:16so that we can actually meet the demand and develop the satellites in the long term.
04:21So that when we do it, we do it in a commercial way.
04:24We do it in a sustainable way. That's what we are looking at.
04:27So could you give us a ballpark figure compared to what else is on the market?
04:31How much cheaper are you able to make things?
04:33I think just to use one example.
04:36There is a critical component of satellite called antenna, the antenna for communication.
04:43When we started in the market, such kind of antenna has a weight of more than 7 kgs, 7 kgs.
04:51So with our innovation and our optimization of design of such kind of antennas,
04:58we successfully reduced the weight of the antenna, half of the original weight or the original mass.
05:06So which is a very big cost saving, because as we know that when we launch everything from ground to the space,
05:13it needs a very, you know, heavy charges on the launching services.
05:18So once we reduce the antennas to not even to up half of the original weight,
05:25we are actually reducing the cost of 50% through this angle only.
05:31And there is also another technical innovations which further reduce the cost while actually improving the performance of those antennas
05:39to improve the throughput of the satellite, which again is a cost saving against the original satellite communication.
05:47That's how we may make the satellite communication services more affordable than the original players or the traditional way.
05:54That's a significant number in terms of cost savings.
05:58This is coming at a time where it's not just crucial in terms of governments backing the sector and perhaps giving the contracts,
06:06but the private sector to your point earlier about commercialization.
06:09And I know that recently you guys had a contract with Thailand's Telco True.
06:14How important is that part of the business for you?
06:17And what are the key markets in Asia that you're exploring?
06:20Yeah, right now as a commercial company, we are still exploring the global market.
06:26Let's say we just get started.
06:28But we have some unique offers.
06:32We have a constellation trial network where we have some satellites in the space.
06:38Using those satellites, we can actually conduct lots of validations of technology.
06:44Also the applications of the satellite internet.
06:47So with our collaboration in Thailand and other countries which are coming up, we are able to actually collaborate with the local players.
06:55Either it's the telecom player or it's the space players.
06:58We can actually collaborate to validate the technology and to actually apply our satellite internet in the local industry.
07:07To look for the needs or the demands.
07:11The real world use cases.
07:13Because in the end, we need the use cases to be commercialized.
07:17So that the use cases will use the satellite services.
07:20That's how the space industry gets its own commercial closed loop.
07:25We have to find the real demand, the real needs.
07:28And we also have to understand the pain points of those end users.
07:32So that's why we need to go to different countries to establish collaboration, to get the right demands of the industry.
07:40So what are the priority markets for you, aside from Thailand?
07:43I think for us, we are open to our global markets, each and every single market.
07:48That's kind of our interest.
07:50But for now, based on our evaluation of, let's say, economics, population, the gap of connectivity.
07:59We are more looking at the Southeast Asia, Middle East, Africa, Latin America.
08:05Those are the regions where the economy is actually going up, while there is still, you know, some connectivity gap.
08:12Or there are some kind of high value needed for satellite connectivity.
08:17That's where the major markets we are making efforts are.
08:20At the same time, you'll have to make sure that the satellite and the terrestrial networks are integrated, right?
08:28To your point about me doing a bit more research in the market and with working with the telephones.
08:33So how is that going to play out?
08:35How are you making sure that there is that integration as we look from 5G to 6G?
08:40Okay, that's really one of the critical issues or one of the biggest potential of our satellite industry.
08:47I think the most commercialized industry, space industry, is actually communication.
08:53When we move forward, you know, we want to create a network of connectivity services that is ubiquitous, that is everywhere around the corner of the world.
09:03But this requires the integration of the space communication network with the terrestrial network.
09:10This integration actually needs more collaboration.
09:14The centralized industry needs to work, you know, closely with the telecom industry, especially the telecom operators.
09:21Because as I mentioned earlier, the frequency allocation, the spectrum, is one of the important things in this industry.
09:28We have to make sure in the first step that the space communication network does not interfere with the terrestrial network.
09:37We have to co-share the frequencies.
09:40But in the long run, with the integration of the space industry, a space-based communication network with the terrestrial network,
09:48then each and every one of us on the ground will enjoy the network, the smooth services around the corner of the world without getting any break.
09:59That's kind of the ultimate goal we are looking at with, let's say, 5G or so-called 6G.
10:06Satellite communication network is going to be part of the communication system infrastructure.
10:11Okay, Peter, one last question before we let you go.
10:14When it comes to space, the final frontier, we are always looking out for the next big thing.
10:18We know how this week, as soon as we could see another NASA project, Artemis 2, getting to around the moon, not to the moon, around the moon.
10:29You are excited about lunar exploration as well.
10:32What is China's role in all of this that you see?
10:35I think lunar exploration is actually a very big trend.
10:40And either from China side or from the US side or from other countries side, I think most of the industry players and most of the ordinary people like you and me are all excited for the moon exploration.
10:52Going to the moon, I think, is going to be a dream come true for many people, not just in China, but also in other developing countries.
10:59So speaking from the China side, I think our country or the industry players are making very big progress.
11:08We also did a lot for the deep lunar exploration.
11:13And myself, as a fan of this industry, I'm looking forward that we will also have some other milestones, you know, getting to the moon, orbit around the moon first.
11:26Yes.
11:27Yes.
11:28Yes.
11:29Yes.
11:30Yes.
11:31Yes.
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