2019 Taiwan - Telecoms, Mobile and Broadband - Statistics and Analyses

Last updated: 15 Apr 2020 Update History

Report Status: Archived

Report Pages: 166

Analyst: Sebastien De Rosbo

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Summary
Table Of Contents

Publication Overview

This report provides a comprehensive overview of trends and developments in Taiwan’s telecommunications market. The report analyses the fixed-line, mobile and broadband sectors. Subjects include:

Market and industry analyses, trends and developments;
Facts, figures and statistics;
Industry and regulatory issues;
Infrastructure developments;
Major Players, Revenues, Subscribers, ARPU, MoU;
Mobile Voice and Data Markets;
Broadband (FttP, DSL, cable, wireless);
Mobile subscribers and ARPU;
Broadband market forecasts;
Government policies affecting the telecoms industry;
Market liberalisation and industry issues;
Telecoms operators – privatisation, IPOs, acquisitions, new licences;
Mobile technologies (GSM; 3G, HSPA, LTE, 5G).

Researcher:- Sébastien de Rosbo
Current publication date:- January 2020 (25th Edition)

Executive Summary

Taiwan government invests to support 5G ecosystem

Taiwan has developed a dynamic telecommunications industry defined by excellent infrastructure and a very competitive mobile market. Private investors are attracted to the territory due to its regulatory certainty, market maturity, an educated workforce and highly clustered ICT sector that sits at the heart of economic development.

Overall fixed line penetration has been in decline since 2012, and this trend is expected to continue in coming years as customers adopt mobile and mobile broadband solutions for voice and data services. The mobile market is dominated by three operators, and high penetration has resulted in intense competition to gain new subscribers. In recent years this was evidenced in the drive to develop 4G services, which were quickly embraced by consumers. The same drive is being repeated with 5G, with operators gearing up to deploy 5G services in a range of bands later in 2020.

Taiwan’s advanced fixed broadband market is served by a variety of technology platforms including DSL, fibre, HFC, leased lines and wireless. Fibre is the most popular platform, largely due to the migration of DSL subscribers, and has underpinned Taiwan’s relatively high standing in global broadband rankings. Growth in the fibre sector is likely to continue to be strong in coming years though more subdued than formally, given that most DSL subscribers have already migrated away from copper.

Market penetration in the fixed broadband subscriber market has remained flat over the past five years due to a declining number of fixed lines and the growing dominance of mobile broadband. Over the next five years relatively slow growth is predicted. One break on fixed broadband growth will come from 5G since the launch of services is expected to encourage some consumers to close their fixed broadband connections.

BuddeComm notes that the outbreak of the Coronavirus in 2020 is having a significant impact on production and supply chains globally. During the coming year the telecoms sector to various degrees is likely to experience a downturn in mobile device production, while it may also be difficult for network operators to manage workflows when maintaining and upgrading existing infrastructure. Overall progress towards 5G may be postponed or slowed down in some countries.

On the consumer side, spending on telecoms services and devices is under pressure from the financial effect of large-scale job losses and the consequent restriction on disposable incomes. However, the crucial nature of telecom services, both for general communication as well as a tool for home-working, will offset such pressures. In many markets the net effect should be a steady though reduced increased in subscriber growth.

Although it is challenging to predict and interpret the long-term impacts of the crisis as it develops, these have been acknowledged in the industry forecasts contained in this report.

The report also covers the responses of the telecom operators as well as government agencies and regulators as they react to the crisis to ensure that citizens can continue to make optimum use of telecom services. This can be reflected in subsidy schemes and the promotion of tele-health and tele-education, among other solutions.

Key developments:

Taiwan implements strategy to attain a significant share of the global IoT market;
Regulator begins multi-spectrum auction for 5G services;
Government to release NT$20.5 billion to encourage development of 5G services and apps;
Slowing mobile broadband growth predicted through to 2024;
DSL sector shrinks as subscribers migrate to fibre;
Report includes operator data to November 2019, regulator’s market data for Q3 2019, Telecom Maturity Index charts and analyses, assessment of the global impact of COVID-19 on the telecoms sector, recent market developments.

Companies mentioned in this report:

Chunghwa Telecom, New Century Infocom, Taiwan Fixed Network Telecom, FarEasTone, Taiwan Mobile, Asia Pacific Telecom, VIBO Telecom, Ambit, GigaMedia, WiMAX Telecom, Tatung Telecom, Global Mobile

Sébastien de Rosbo
April 2020

Key statistics
COVID-19 and its impact on the telecom sector

Economic considerations and responses
Mobile devices
Subscribers
Infrastructure

Regional Market Comparison
Telecommunications market

Historical overview
Market overview and analysis
Market revenue

Regulatory environment

Regulatory authorities

Ministry of Transport and Communications (MOTC)
National Communications Commission (NCC)

Fixed-line developments

Liberalisation
Government initiatives for broadband and m-Taiwan
Legislation and market liberalisation
1996 Telecom ACT
Foreign investment
Licensing
Foreign equipment restrictions
Amendments to the Radio and Television act
National Information and Communication Initiative (NICI)

Mobile network developments

4G / LTE spectrum auctions
5G spectrum auction
Mobile Number Portability (MNP)

Mobile market

Market overview and analysis
Mobile statistics

General statistics

Mobile infrastructure

5G
4G
3G
2G
Other infrastructure developments
Mobile broadband

Major mobile operators

Operator statistics and market share
FarEasTone Telecommunications
Taiwan Mobile
Chunghwa Telecom (CHT)
Asia Pacific Telecom (APT)
VIBO Telecom
Ambit
Star Cellular
Mobile Virtual Network Operators (MVNOs)

Fixed-line broadband market

Market analysis
Fixed broadband statistics
Fixed broadband operators

Chunghwa Telecom
Taiwan Mobile

Hybrid Fibre Coax (HFC) networks
Digital Subscriber Line (DSL) networks
Fibre-to-the-Premises (FttP) networks

FttX and Taipei City government
Other fixed broadband services

Fixed network operator

Chunghwa Telecom (CHT)

Telecommunications infrastructure

Fixed line subscribers
Forward looking infrastructure project to 2025
Submarine cable networks
Satellite networks
Cloud computing
Smart infrastructure

Internet of Things (IoT)
Smart grids

Digital economy

Introduction
e-Payments / m-Payments
Online Shopping
e-Government

Glossary of abbreviations
Appendix – Historic data

List of Tables

Table 1 – Top Level Country Statistics and Telco Authorities – 2020 (e)
Table 2 – Key Metrics - Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) - 2019 – 2024
Table 3 – Taiwan - Distribution of telecom revenue by services – 2016 – 2018
Table 4 – Change in data communication revenue and mobile data service revenue ratios – 2009 – 2018
Table 5– Change in the number of mobile number portings – 2005 – 2019
Table 6– Growth in the number of mobile subscribers and penetration – 2009 – 2024
Table 7 – Change in the number of mobile subscribers by technology - 2G, 3G, 4G – 2009 – 2018
Table 8– Change in voice traffic volume by type – 2009 – 2018
Table 9– Prepaid share of total mobile subscriber base – 2009 – 2018
Table 10 – Decline in SMS traffic and revenue – 2009 – 2018
Table 11 – Development of 2G/3G/4G mobile services ARPU – 2009 – 2018
Table 12 – Change in the number of 3G/4G mobile broadband subscribers – 2008 – 2018
Table 13 – Growth in the number of mobile broadband subscribers and penetration – 2009 – 2024
Table 14– Mobile operators – Subscribers and market share – 2018
Table 15 – Development of FarEasTone’ revenue, EBITDA, capex, net profit – 2009 – 2019
Table 16 – Change in the number of FarEasTone’s mobile subscribers – 2009 – 2019
Table 17 – Development of FarEasTone’s ARPU (NT$) – 2007 – 2019
Table 18 – Development of FarEasTone’s revenue by type – 2017 – 2019
Table 19– Growth in Taiwan Mobile’s revenue and net profit – 2009 – 2019
Table 20– Taiwan Mobile annualised ARPU (per month) – 2017 – 2019
Table 21 – Change in the number of Taiwan Mobile’s subscribers by type – 2010 – 2019
Table 22 – Change in the number of Chunghwa Telecom’s mobile subscribers - 2009 – 2019
Table 23 – Development of Chunghwa Telecom’s mobile subscribers market share – 2009 - 2018
Table 24 – Change in Chunghwa Telecom’s blended mobile ARPU – 2009 – 2018
Table 25 – Growth in the number of fixed broadband subscriber and penetration – 2009 - 2024
Table 26 – Change in the number of fixed-line broadband subscribers by technology – 2007 – 2018
Table 27 – Change in the number of Chunghwa Telecom’s broadband subscribers by technology – 2009 – 2019
Table 28 – Change in Chunghwa Telecom’s broadband ARPU – 2009 – 2018
Table 29 – Growth in the number of Taiwan Mobile’s cable broadband Subscribers – 2008 – 2019
Table 30 – Growth in the number of cable broadband subscribers – 2009 – 2018
Table 31 – Decline in the number of DSL subscribers – 2009 – 2018
Table 32 – Growth in the number of fibre broadband subscribers – 2007 – 2018
Table 33 – 2.5GHz spectrum winners – 2007
Table 34 – Change in Chunghwa Telecom’s revenue, capex, net profit – 2009 – 2019
Table 35 – Change in proportion of Chunghwa Telecom’s revenue by service – 2006 – 2019
Table 36 – Decline in Chunghwa Telecom’s fixed line subscriber base (residential and business) – 2008 – 2019
Table 37 – Decline in the number of fixed lines in service and penetration – 2009 – 2024
Table 38 – Growth in international internet bandwidth – 2009 – 2018
Table 39 – Historic - Data communication revenue and mobile data service revenue ratios – 2001 – 2009
Table 40 – Historic - International internet bandwidth – 2000 – 2009
Table 41 – Historic - Taiwan telecoms service revenue – 1985 – 2012
Table 42 – Historic - Fixed-line subscribers and penetration – 1995 – 2011
Table 43 – Historic - Taiwan - Call volumes for outgoing mobile and fixed network traffic – 1999 – 2016
Table 44 – Historic - Chunghwa Telecom revenue, capex, net profit – 2000 – 2009
Table 45 – Historic - Chunghwa Telecom’s fixed line subscribers, residential and business – 2000 – 2009
Table 46 – Historic - Internet users and penetration– 1998 – 2016
Table 47 – Historic - Fixed-line broadband subscribers, penetration – 2000 – 2011
Table 48 – Historic - Fixed-line and wireless broadband subscribers by technology – 2003 – 2015
Table 49 – Historic - Cable broadband subscribers – 2000 – 2009
Table 50 – Historic - DSL subscribers – 2000 – 2009
Table 51 – Historic - Chunghwa Telecom HiNet subscribers by type – 2003 – 2014
Table 52 – Historic - Chunghwa Telecom broadband ARPU – 2001 – 2009
Table 53 – Historic - Chunghwa DSL and fibre ARPU – 2008 – 2014
Table 54– Historic – Mobile subscribers by technology (PHS, 2G, 3G, LTE) – 2003 – 2015
Table 55– Historic - Mobile subscribers and penetration – 1995 – 2011
Table 56 – 2G/3G/4G mobile services ARPU – 2005 – 2009
Table 57– Historic - SMS traffic and revenue – 2001 – 2009
Table 58– Historic - Prepaid share of total mobile subscriber base – 2001 – 2009
Table 59 – Historic - Chunghwa Telecom mobile subscriber - 1998 – 2009
Table 60 – Historic - Chunghwa Telecom’s blended mobile ARPU – 2001 – 2009
Table 61– Historic - Taiwan Mobile revenue and net profit – 2003 – 2009
Table 62 – Historic - Taiwan Mobile subscribers– 1998 – 2009
Table 63– Historic - FarEasTone mobile subscribers – 1998 – 2009
Table 64 – Historic - FarEasTone revenue, EBITDA, capex, net profit – 2003 – 2009
Table 65 – Historic - Chunghwa Telecom’s mobile subscribers market share – 2000 - 2009
Table 66 – Historic – APT’s mobile subscribers – 2003 – 2013
Table 67– Historic - VIBO Telecom mobile subscribers and annual change – 2005 – 2013

List of Charts

Chart 1 – Asian Telecoms Maturity Index by Market Category
Chart 2 – Asian Telecoms Maturity Index vs GDP per Capita
Chart 3 – Telecoms Maturity Index – Northern Asia
Chart 4 – Mobile, Mobile Broadband & Fixed Broadband Penetration – 2018; 2023
Chart 5 – Change in data communication revenue and mobile data service revenue ratios – 2009 – 2018
Chart 6 – Change in the number of mobile number portings – 2005 – 2019
Chart 7– Percentage of population covered by type of mobile network
Chart 8– Growth in the number of mobile subscribers and penetration – 2009 – 2024
Chart 9– Change in the number of mobile subscribers by technology - 2G, 3G, 4G – 2009 – 2018
Chart 10– Change in voice traffic volume by type – 2009 – 2018
Chart 11 – Decline in SMS traffic and revenue – 2009 – 2018
Chart 12– Development of 2G/3G/4G mobile services ARPU – 2009 – 2018
Chart 13 – Change in the number of 3G/4G mobile broadband subscribers – 2008 – 2018
Chart 14 – Growth in the number of mobile broadband subscribers and penetration – 2009 – 2024
Chart 15 – Development of FarEasTone’s revenue, EBITDA, capex, net profit – 2009 – 2019
Chart 16 – Change in the number of FarEasTone’s mobile subscribers – 2009 – 2019
Chart 17 – Development of FarEasTone’s ARPU (NT$) – 2007 – 2019
Chart 18 – Growth in Taiwan Mobile’s revenue and net profit – 2009 – 2019
Chart 19 – Change in the number of Taiwan Mobile’s subscribers by type – 2010 – 2019
Chart 20 – Change in the number of Chunghwa Telecom’s mobile subscribers - 2009 – 2019
Chart 21 – Growth in the number of fixed broadband subscribers – 2009 – 2024
Chart 22 – Change in the number of fixed-line broadband subscribers by technology – 2007 – 2018
Chart 23 – Change in the number of Chunghwa Telecom’s broadband subscribers by technology – 2009 – 2019
Chart 24 – Change in Chunghwa Telecom’s broadband ARPU – 2009 – 2018
Chart 25 – Growth in the number of Taiwan Mobile’s cable broadband Subscribers – 2008 – 2019
Chart 26 – Growth in the number of cable broadband subscribers – 2009 – 2018
Chart 27 – Decline in the number of DSL subscribers – 2009 – 2018
Chart 28 – Growth in the number of fibre broadband subscribers – 2007 – 2018
Chart 29 – Change in Chunghwa Telecom’s revenue, capex, net profit – 2009 – 2019
Chart 30 – Change in proportion of Chunghwa Telecom’s revenue by service – 2006 – 2019
Chart 31 – Decline in Chunghwa Telecom’s fixed line subscriber base (residential and business) – 2008 – 2019
Chart 32 – Decline in the number of fixed lines in service and penetration – 2009 – 2024

List of Exhibits

Exhibit 1 – Key Market Characteristics by Market Segment
Exhibit 2 – Northern Asia - Key Characteristics of Telecoms Markets by Country
Exhibit 3 – 5G spectrum auction - 2020
Exhibit 4 – Major global/regional submarine cables with landing point in Taiwan

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2019 Taiwan - Telecoms, Mobile and Broadband - Statistics and Analyses

Purchase this Report

Taiwan government invests to support 5G ecosystem

Key developments:

Companies mentioned in this report:

Key statistics

COVID-19 and its impact on the telecom sector

Regional Market Comparison

Telecommunications market

Regulatory environment

Mobile market

Fixed-line broadband market

Fixed network operator

Telecommunications infrastructure

Digital economy

Glossary of abbreviations

Appendix – Historic data

Purchase this Report

Share this Report

TMT Intelligence

A platform to scale your intelligence tasks

Research Methodology

Hot Topics

News & Views