Taiwan is adding satellite links as a backup for undersea cables, a plus for disaster readiness but a new headache for regulators.

• Low-orbit satellites give Taiwan a way to stay connected if undersea cables are cut or a major disaster hits.
• The catch: the core networks, ground stations, and the data itself may sit outside Taiwan, leaving officials with little control.
• Experts want "local governance" — a node inside Taiwan that falls under Taiwanese law, so authorities can step in when needed.
• Japan is held up as the model: bring in foreign technology, but keep local operators and market rules in the loop.
• Parliament just loosened foreign investment limits in telecoms, but the rules for supervising cross-border satellite services still do not exist.

Outlook: Expect a push for a joint framework across the digital, telecom, science, and national security agencies before phone-to-satellite service arrives in the next few years.