Insatiable demand for internet connectivity across Asia Pacific is fueling advancements in satellite technology. The emergence of software-defined satellites, for instance, shows a beleaguered industry battling back against faster developments in fiber and 5G-based networks that have in turn catalyzed a generation of technologies rooted in streaming, sending satellite transponder fees crashing back to Earth. One pertinent example comes from Eutelsat Asia, the regional subsidiary of the French satellite fleet operator, launching into a new partnership hot off the press with Space Tech Innovation (STI), a subsidiary of local satellite operator Thaicom. The tie-up will see the development of a new software-defined satellite – one that can be fully reprogrammed while in orbit – for delivery some time in 2027.…