Taiwan Telecoms Market Report

Telecoms, Mobile and Broadband - Statistics and Analyses

Publication Date: June 2026

Report Pages: 188

Analyst: Henry Lancaster

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Summary
Table Of Contents

Taiwan’s government invests to extend 5G to rural areas

Taiwan has a highly developed telecoms sector in both the fixed-line and mobile segments. In part this is due to the country’s early moves to liberalise the market, allowing vigorous competition to flourish. The government has also made concerted efforts to take advantage of Taiwan’s strengths in the development of high-tech, export-oriented industries to encourage and enable the rapid adoption of advanced telecom platforms, while simultaneously leveraging the same telecoms infrastructure to push even further ahead with the country's industrial development plans.

Taiwan has one of the highest teledensities in the region. While fixed-line subscriber numbers are trending downwards, the rate of decline has been slowed by the major fixed-line provider (Chunghwa Telecom) investing strongly in building out a widespread fibre network to allow customers to maintain a terrestrial voice connection as part of a fixed broadband package.

Fibre is the dominant platform in Taiwan’s fixed broadband market, though cable services retain a strong following thanks to the success of cable providers in delivering competitive cable TV and telephony services as a way to get around Chunghwa Telecom’s control of the last mile for its copper and fibre networks.

Taiwan has relatively high penetration rates in its mobile and mobile broadband segments, though growth in both markets has been stagnant recently. The MNOs moved quickly to roll out LTE and 5G networks and services in rapid succession. The government is helping to extend 5G services into rural areas through investment programs in an effort to encourage the country’s digital transformation and to widen the participation of these areas in the digital economy.

In response to real or perceived threats from China, Taiwan is also looking to expand its subsea internet connectivity, and is tapping into LEO satellites to provide mobile backup and network resilience.

Key developments:

Taiwan’s Legislative Yuan approves NT$24.95 billion investment to subsidise 5G network construction projects in urban and rural areas.
Taiwan Mobile using Lynk’s LEO satellites to provide mobile backup and support network resilience.
Far EasTone merges with APT.
Report includes operator data to September 2025, regulator’s market data to August 2025, updated Telecom Maturity Index charts and analyses, recent market developments.

Companies mentioned in this report:

Chunghwa Telecom, Far EasTone, Taiwan Mobile, Asia Pacific Telecom, VIBO Telecom, Taiwan Star, Ambit, GigaMedia.

Key statistics
Regional Asia market comparison

Market characteristics
Market Leaders
Market Challengers
Market Emergents
TMI vs GDP
Mobile and mobile broadband penetration
Fixed versus mobile broadband penetration

Country overview
Telecommunications market

Market revenue

Regulatory environment

Regulatory authorities
Fixed-line developments

Liberalisation
1996 Telecom ACT
Foreign investment

Mobile network developments

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

Mobile market

Mobile infrastructure

5G
LTE
3G
GSM
Mobile satellite
Mobile broadband

Major mobile operators

Chunghwa Telecom (CHT)
Taiwan Mobile
Far EasTone Telecommunications
Asia Pacific Telecom (APT)
VIBO Telecom
Taiwan Star
Ambit
Mobile Virtual Network Operators (MVNOs)

Fixed-line broadband market

Fibre-to-the-Premises (FttP) networks

Chunghwa Telecom (CHT)
Taiwan Mobile

Hybrid Fibre Coax (HFC) networks

GigaMedia

Digital Subscriber Line (DSL) networks
Other fixed broadband services

Wi-Fi
WiMAX

Digital economy

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

Fixed network market

Major network operators

Chunghwa Telecom (CHT)

Telecommunications infrastructure

Forward-Looking Infrastructure Construction Project
Submarine cable networks
Satellite networks
Smart infrastructure

Internet of Things (IoT)
Smart grids

Appendix – Historic data
Glossary of abbreviations
Related reports

List of Tables

Table 1 – Top Level Country Statistics and Telco Authorities – Taiwan - 2026 (e)
Table 2 – Distribution of telecom revenue by service – 2016 – 2023
Table 3 – Change in telecom sector revenue and investment (NT$ billion) – 2013 – 2023
Table 4 – Change in the number of mobile subscribers and penetration – 2014 – 2028
Table 5 – Change in the number of mobile subscribers by technology (million) – 2014 – 2025
Table 6 – Development of mobile service ARPU by platform (NT$/subscriber/month) – 2012 – 2023
Table 7 – Change in the share of mobile subscriber base by prepaid/contract – 2012 – 2023
Table 8 – Change in voice traffic volume by type (billion minutes) – 2012 – 2025
Table 9 – Change in SMS traffic and revenue – 2012 – 2025
Table 10 – Change in MMS traffic and revenue – 2012 – 2025
Table 11 – Change in the number of active mobile broadband subscribers and penetration – 2014 – 2028
Table 12 – Change in the number of mobile broadband subscribers by platform – 2015 – 2025
Table 13 – Change in the number of voice/data mobile broadband subscribers – 2015 – 2025
Table 14 – Growth in mobile data traffic – 2012 – 2023
Table 15 – Development of mobile broadband revenue – 2020 – 2025
Table 16 – Mobile operator subscribers and market share – 2012 – 2025
Table 17 – Change in the number of Chunghwa Telecom’s mobile subscribers – 2012 – 2025
Table 18 – Change in Chunghwa Telecom’s mobile service revenue (NT$ billion)– 2012 – 2025
Table 19 – Change in Chunghwa Telecom’s blended mobile ARPU – 2012 – 2025
Table 20 – Growth in Taiwan Mobile’s revenue and net profit (NT$ million) – 2012 – 2025
Table 21 – Development of Taiwan Mobile’s revenue by type (NT$ million) – 2015 – 2025
Table 22 – Taiwan Mobile’s annualised ARPU (NT$ per month) – 2012 – 2025
Table 23 – Change in the number of Taiwan Mobile’s subscribers by type (million) – 2012 – 2025
Table 24 – Change in the number of Far EasTone’s mobile subscribers (million) – 2012 – 2025
Table 25 – Development of Far EasTone’s ARPU (NT$ / month) – 2012 – 2022
Table 26 – Development of Far EasTone’s financial data (NT$ million) – 2012 – 2025
Table 27 – Growth in the number of fixed broadband subscribers and penetration – 2014 – 2028
Table 28 – Change in the number of fixed-line broadband subscribers by technology (million) – 2012 – 2025
Table 29 – Change in the proportion of fixed broadband subscribers by data speed (Mb/s) – 2020 – 2023
Table 30 – Change in the number of Chunghwa Telecom’s fibre broadband subscribers – 2012 – 2025
Table 31 – Growth in the number of Taiwan Mobile’s fixed broadband subscribers – 2012 – 2022
Table 32 – Decline in the number of DSL telephone subscribers – 2012 – 2025
Table 33 – Development of Chunghwa Telecom’s financial data (NT$ billion) – 2012 – 2025
Table 34 – Change in the proportion of Chunghwa Telecom’s revenue by service – 2012 – 2021
Table 35 – Change in the number of Chunghwa Telecom’s fixed-line subscribers (million) – 2012 – 2025
Table 36 – Decline in the number of fixed lines in service and teledensity – 2014 – 2028
Table 37 – Growth in international internet bandwidth (Mb/s) – 2012 – 2024
Table 38 – Historic - Data communication revenue and mobile data service revenue ratios – 2001 – 2011
Table 39 – Historic - Change in telecom sector revenue – 2005 – 2012
Table 40 – Historic - International internet bandwidth – 2000 – 2011
Table 42 – Historic - Fixed-line subscribers and penetration – 1996 – 2013
Table 43 – Historic - Call volumes for outgoing mobile and fixed network traffic (billion minutes) – 1999 – 2011
Table 44 – Historic - Change in MMS traffic and revenue – 2007 – 2011
Table 45 – Historic - Change in SMS traffic and revenue – 2007 – 2011
Table 46 – Historic - Chunghwa Telecom revenue, capex, net profit (NT$ billion) – 2000 – 2011
Table 47 – Historic - Chunghwa Telecom’s fixed line subscribers, residential and business (million) – 2000 – 2011
Table 48 – Historic - Internet users and penetration – 1998 – 2016
Table 49 – Historic - Fixed-line broadband subscribers, penetration – 2000 – 2013
Table 50 – Historic - Fixed-line and wireless broadband subscribers by technology (thousand) – 2000 – 2011
Table 51 – Historic - Cable broadband subscribers – 2000 – 2011
Table 52 – Historic - DSL subscribers – 2000 – 2011
Table 53 – Historic - Chunghwa Telecom HiNet subscribers by type (thousand) – 2003 – 2011
Table 54 – Historic - Chunghwa Telecom broadband ARPU (NT$/month) – 2001 – 2011
Table 55 – Historic - Chunghwa DSL and fibre ARPU (NT$/month) – 2008 – 2011
Table 56 – Historic - Mobile subscribers by technology (PHS, 2G, 3G, LTE) (million) – 2003 – 2011
Table 57 – Historic - Mobile subscribers and penetration – 1996 – 2013
Table 58 – Historic - 2G/3G/4G mobile services ARPU (NT$/month) – 2005 – 2011
Table 59 – Historic - SMS traffic and revenue – 2001 – 2011
Table 60 – Historic - Prepaid share of total mobile subscriber base – 2001 – 2011
Table 61 – Historic - Mobile broadband subscribers and penetration – 2012 – 2013
Table 62 – Historic - Chunghwa Telecom mobile subscribers by type (million) – 1998 – 2011
Table 63 – Historic - Chunghwa Telecom’s blended mobile ARPU – 2001 – 2011
Table 64 – Historic - Taiwan Mobile revenue and net profit (NT$ million) – 2003 – 2011
Table 65 – Historic - Taiwan Mobile subscribers by platform (million) – 1998 – 2011
Table 66 – Historic - Far EasTone mobile subscribers – 1998 – 2011
Table 67 – Historic - Far EasTone revenue, EBITDA, capex, net profit (NT$ million) – 2003 – 2011
Table 68 – Historic - Chunghwa Telecom’s mobile subscribers – 2003 – 2011
Table 69 – Historic - Chunghwa Telecom’s mobile market share of subscribers – 2000 – 2011
Table 70 – Historic - APT’s mobile subscribers – 2005 – 2013
Table 71 – Historic - VIBO Telecom mobile subscribers – 2005 – 2013
Source: BuddeComm based on company dataTable 72 – Historic - Change in Chunghwa Telecom’s financial data (NT$ million) – 2005 – 2009
Table 73 – Historic - Chunghwa Telecom’s subscribers as proportion of total – 2006 – 2011
Table 74 – Historic - Change in the number of mobile number portings – 2005 – 2011
Table 75 – Historic - Change in the number of 3G/LTE mobile broadband subscribers (million) – 2008 – 2011
Table 76 – Historic - Development of Far EasTone’s ARPU – 2007 – 2011
Table 77 – Historic - Growth in the number of Taiwan Mobile’s cable broadband subscribers – 2008 – 2011
Table 78 – Historic - Growth in the number of fibre broadband subscribers – 2007 – 2011

List of Charts

Chart 1 – Asia Telecoms Maturity Index – Market Leaders
Chart 2 – Asia Telecoms Maturity Index – Market Challengers
Chart 3 – Asia Telecoms Maturity Index – Market Emergents
Chart 4 – Asia – Telecoms Maturity Index vs GDP per capita
Chart 5 – Asia – Mobile subscriber penetration vs mobile broadband penetration
Chart 6 – Northern Asia – Mobile subscriber penetration vs mobile broadband penetration
Chart 7 – Northern Asia – Fixed and mobile broadband penetration
Chart 8 – Distribution of telecom revenue by service – 2016 – 2023
Chart 9 – Change in telecom sector revenue and investment – 2013 – 2023
Chart 10 – Change in the number of mobile subscribers and penetration – 2014 – 2028
Chart 11 – Change in the number of mobile subscribers by technology – 2014 – 2025
Chart 12 – Development of mobile service ARPU by platform – 2012 – 2023
Chart 13 – Change in the share of mobile subscriber base by prepaid/contract – 2012 – 2023
Chart 14 – Change in voice traffic volume by type – 2014 – 2025
Chart 15 – Change in SMS traffic – 2012 – 2025
Chart 16 – Change in MMS traffic – 2012 – 2025
Chart 17 – Change in the number of mobile broadband subscribers and penetration – 2014 – 2028
Chart 18 – Change in the number of mobile broadband subscribers by platform – 2015 – 2025
Chart 19 – Change in the number of voice/data mobile broadband subscribers – 2015 – 2025
Chart 20 – Growth in mobile data traffic – 2012 – 2023
Chart 21 – Development of mobile broadband revenue – 2020 – 2025
Chart 22 – Mobile operator subscribers and market share – 2012 – 2025
Chart 23 – Change in the number of Chunghwa Telecom’s mobile subscribers – 2012 – 2025
Chart 24 – Change in Chunghwa Telecom’s mobile service revenue – 2012 – 2025
Chart 25 – Change in Chunghwa Telecom’s blended mobile ARPU – 2012 – 2025
Chart 26 – Growth in Taiwan Mobile’s revenue and net profit – 2012 – 2025
Chart 27 – Development of Taiwan Mobile’s revenue by type – 2015 – 2025
Chart 28 – Taiwan Mobile’s annualised ARPU – 2012 – 2025
Chart 29 – Change in the number of Taiwan Mobile’s subscribers by type – 2012 – 2025
Chart 30 – Change in the number of Far EasTone’s mobile subscribers – 2012 – 2025
Chart 31 – Development of Far EasTone’s ARPU – 2012 – 2022
Chart 32 – Development of Far EasTone’s financial data – 2012 – 2025
Chart 33 – Growth in the number of fixed broadband subscribers – 2014 – 2028
Chart 34 – Change in the number of fixed-line broadband subscribers by technology – 2012 – 2025
Chart 35 – Change in the proportion of fixed broadband subscribers by data speed – 2020 – 2023
Chart 36 – Change in the number of Chunghwa Telecom’s fibre broadband subscribers – 2012 – 2025
Chart 37 – Growth in the number of Taiwan Mobile’s fixed broadband subscribers – 2012 – 2022
Chart 38 – Decline in the number of DSL telephone subscribers – 2012 – 2025
Chart 39 – Development of Chunghwa Telecom’s financial data – 2012 – 2025
Chart 40 – Change in proportion of Chunghwa Telecom’s revenue by service – 2012 – 2021
Chart 41 – Change in the number of Chunghwa Telecom’s fixed-line subscribers – 2012 – 2025
Chart 42 – Decline in the number of fixed lines in service and teledensity – 2014 – 2028
Chart 43 – Growth in international internet bandwidth – 2012 – 2024

List of Exhibits

Exhibit 1 – Map of Telecom Maturity Index global ranking among countries in Asia
Exhibit 2 – Generalised Market Characteristics by Market Segment
Exhibit 3 – Asia – Market Leaders and market developments
Exhibit 4 – Asia – Market Challengers and market developments
Exhibit 5 – Asia – Market Emergents and market developments
Exhibit 6 – Map of Taiwan
Exhibit 7 – 5G spectrum award results – January 2020
Exhibit 8 – Major global/regional submarine cables with landing point in Taiwan

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Taiwan Telecoms Market Report

Telecoms, Mobile and Broadband - Statistics and Analyses

Purchase this Report

Taiwan’s government invests to extend 5G to rural areas

Key developments:

Companies mentioned in this report:

Key statistics

Regional Asia market comparison

Country overview

Telecommunications market

Regulatory environment

Mobile market

Fixed-line broadband market

Digital economy

Fixed network market

Telecommunications infrastructure

Appendix – Historic data

Glossary of abbreviations

Related reports

Purchase this Report

Share this Report

TMT Intelligence

A platform to scale your intelligence tasks

Research Methodology

Hot Topics

News & Views