Taiwan rapidly embraces LTE, raising questions over WiMaxTaiwan has developed a dynamic telecommunications industry defined by excellent telecommunications infrastructure and a very competitive mobile market.
Taiwan’s fixed-line market continues to be dominated by incumbent operator Chunghwa Telecom despite competition and fixed mobile substitution eating into its market share and fixed-line revenue. However the market remains important due to the increasing popularity of fixed broadband which is undergoing a transition from predominantly DSL to fibre access based platforms. Throughout 2016 DSL users will continue migrating to fibre, raising questions about the long term viability of DSL.
Apart from DSL and fibre, fixed broadband is also available via HFC and wireless platforms such as WiMAX. Despite significant WiMAX investments as part of efforts to diversify its ICT industry the platform did not gain widespread acceptance, with the widespread popularity of LTE-based mobile broadband raising questions about the optimal use of the limited radio frequency spectrum that is currently allocated to WiMAX.
Recognising the ability of utilising ICT to improve both social and economic development, Taiwan has taken steps to develop a digital economy, encompassing digital media and e-services and building upon the high availability of fixed and mobile broadband networks. Private sector involvement is particularly strong in digital media, with digital media content widely accessible via HFC and IPTV networks. Telecom operators such as Chunghwa Telecom have also invested heavily in digital media as a means to cross-sell additional products to existing telecom customers.
Taiwan possesses an extremely competitive mobile market as no less than six mobile operators compete in a relatively small island inhabited by less than 24 million people. The mobile market is dominated by three players: Chunghwa Telecom, Taiwan Mobile and Far EastTone Telecommunications. High mobile penetration means competition is intense to acquire subscribers hence the market was quick to embrace LTE which will eventually raise questions about the possibility of improving mobile operator OPEX and network capacity by consolidating from three mobile network platforms (GSM, WCDMA, LTE) to two.
Key Developments:
Fibre continues to eat into the market share of DSL
The long term viability of DSL is in doubt given its shrinking user base
WiMAX has largely missed its growth opportunity to LTE and WiFi
Chunghwa Telecom continues to focus on IPTV as a cross-selling opportunity for its sizeable fixed broadband base
Mobile profitability remains challenging due to increased competition
A sixth mobile network operator has entered the market through LTE introduction
LTE take up is occurring at a faster rate than for 3G
LTE provides an opportunity to reverse declining ARPU levelsCompanies mentioned in this report:
Chunghwa Telecom, Far EasTone, Taiwan Mobile, Asia Pacific Telecom, Vibo Telecom, Ambit.
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1. Key statistics
2. Telecommunications market
2.1 Historical overview
2.2 Market analysis
2.2.1 Telecom revenue by service
2.2.2 Data communications revenue
3. Regulatory environment
3.1 Historic overview
3.2 Regulatory authority
3.3 Ministry of Transport and Communications (MOTC)
3.4 National Communications Commission (NCC)
3.5 Government policies eg Telecom sector liberalisation
3.5.1 Liberalisation
3.5.2 Government initiatives for broadband and m-Taiwan
3.6 Legislation and market liberalisation
3.7 The 1996 Telecom Bill
3.8 Privatisation of Chunghwa Telecom
3.9 Foreign investment
3.10 Licensing
3.10.1 WiMAX in Taiwan – licensing
3.11 Foreign equipment restrictions
3.12 Telecoms tariffs
3.13 Amendments to the Radio and Television act
3.13.1 Digital Convergence Policy Initiative
3.13.2 Restructure of telecoms and broadcasting markets
3.13.3 Further policies to promote digital convergence
3.14 National Information and Communication Initiative (NICI)
4. Fixed network operators
4.1 Fixed network operators Overview
4.2 Chunghwa Telecom Co Ltd (CHT)
4.2.1 Financial and operational statistics
4.3 Taiwan Fixed Network Telecom
5. Telecommunications infrastructure
5.1 Overview of the national telecom network
5.2 Submarine cable networks
5.3 Satellite networks
5.4 Smart infrastructure
5.4.1 Smart grids
6. Broadband market
6.1 Introduction and statistical overview
6.1.1 Broadband statistics
6.1.2 Internet users and subscribers
6.1.3 Forecasts – FTTH subscribers – 2016; 2018; 2022
6.2 Hybrid Fibre Coax (HFC) networks
6.2.1 Introduction
6.3 Digital Subscriber Line (DSL) networks
6.3.1 Introduction
6.4 Fibre-to-the-Premises (FttP) and Fibre-To-The-Home (FttH)
6.4.1 FttX and Taipei City government
6.4.2 Fixed wireless (WiFi and WiMAX)
7. Digital media
7.1 Overview of broadcasting market
7.1.1 Television
7.1.2 Digital terrestrial services
7.1.3 Videostreaming
7.1.4 Cable TV
8. Digital economy
8.1 Introduction
8.2 e-Government
9. Mobile communications
9.1 Market analysis
9.2 Mobile statistics
9.2.1 General statistics
9.2.2 Forecasts
9.3 Regulatory issues
9.3.1 4G / LTE spectrum auction
9.3.2 Mobile Number Portability (MNP)
9.4 Mobile infrastructure
9.4.1 Brief intro analogue networks
9.4.2 Digital networks
9.4.3 Personal Handyphone Service (PHS)
9.4.4 3G
9.4.5 LTE
9.5 Major mobile operators
9.5.1 Far EasTone Telecommunications Group
9.5.2 Taiwan Mobile
9.5.3 Chunghwa Telecom Co Ltd (CHT)
9.5.4 Asia Pacific Telecom
9.5.5 VIBO Telecom
9.5.6 Ambit
9.6 Mobile content and applications
9.6.1 Mobile Internet
9.6.2 Mobile TV
9.6.3 Mobile value-added services
9.6.4 Mobile banking
9.6.5 NFC payments
Table 1 – Country statistics – 2015
Table 2 – Telecom revenue statistics – 2014
Table 3 – Telephone network statistics – 2016
Table 4 – Internet user statistics – 2016
Table 5 – Fixed broadband statistics – 2016
Table 6 – Mobile statistics – 2016
Table 7 – National telecommunications authorities
Table 8 – Taiwan - Distribution of telecom revenue by services – 2014
Table 9 – Taiwan - Data communication revenue and mobile data service revenue as proportion of total telecom revenue – 2001 - 2014
Table 10 – Taiwan 2.5GHz spectrum winners – 2007
Table 11 – Taiwan - Chunghwa Telecom revenue, capex, net profit – 2000 – 2015
Table 12 – Taiwan - Chunghwa Telecom revenue breakdown – 2006 - 2015
Table 13 – Chunghwa Telecom fixed line subscribers and market share – 2000 - 2015
Table 14 – Chunghwa Telecom fixed residential and business subscribers – 2004 - 2015
Table 15 – Taiwan – Fixed-line subscribers and penetration – 1995 - 2016
Table 16 – Taiwan - Call volumes for outgoing mobile and fixed network traffic – 1999 – 2015
Table 17 – Taiwan - Fixed-line broadband subscribers, penetration – 2000 - 2016
Table 18 – Taiwan - Fixed-line and wireless broadband subscribers by technology – 2003 – 2015
Table 19 – Taiwan - Chunghwa Telecom internet HiNet subscribers – 2003 – 2014
Table 20 – Chunghwa Telecom broadband subscribers by technology – 2001 – 2015
Table 21 – Taiwan - Chunghwa Telecom Narrowband and Broadband ARPU – 2001 – 2015
Table 22 – Taiwan – Chunghwa ADSL and FTTX ARPU – 2008 - 2014
Table 23 – Chunghwa Telecom – Average downlink speed – 2008 – 2014
Table 24 – Taiwan - Internet users – 1995 - 2016
Table 25 – Taiwan - Forecast FTTH broadband subscribers and penetration - higher band: 2016, 2018; 2022
Table 26 – Taiwan - Forecast FTTH broadband subscribers and penetration - lower band: 2016, 2018; 2022
Table 27 – Taiwan - Cable Modem subscribers – 2000 – 2015
Table 28 – DSL subscribers – 2000 - 2015
Table 29 – Taiwan - FttX subscribers – 2007 - 2015
Table 30 – Taiwan – Chunghwa Telecom FTTX subscribers by speeds – 2013 - 2015
Table 31 – Digital Set-top box subscribers – 2010 - 2015
Table 32 – Digital Pay TV subscrive
Table 33 – Taiwan Multimedia Content Transporting Platform service – 2010 - 2015
Table 34 – Taiwan - Chunghwa Telecom MOD subscribers – 2005 – 2015
Table 35 –Cable TV subscribers – 2002 – 2015
Table 36 – Taiwan - Mobile subscribers and penetration – 1995 - 2016
Table 37 –Taiwan – Mobile subscriber growth by technology (PHS, 2G, 3G, LTE) – 2003 – 2016
Table 38 – 2G/3G/4G mobile services ARPU – 2005 - 2014
Table 39 – Taiwan – LTE subscribers and market share – September 2015
Table 40 – Taiwan - Prepaid mobile subscribers – market share – 2001 - 2016
Table 41 – Taiwan - SMS message volume – 2001 - 2015
Table 42 – Taiwan 3G/4G mobile broadband subscribers – 2008 - 2015
Table 43 – Taiwan - Forecast LTE mobile subscribers and penetration – higher band: 2017; 2021
Table 44 – Taiwan - Forecast LTE mobile subscribers and penetration – lower band: 2017; 2021
Table 45 – Taiwan - Far EasTone revenue, EBITDA, capex, net profit and ARPU – 2003 - 2015
Table 46 – Taiwan - Far EasTone mobile subscribers and annual change – 1998 - 2015
Table 47 – Taiwan - Far EasTone blended ARPU – 2007 – 2015
Table 48 – Taiwan – Taiwan Mobile revenue and net profit – 2003 – 2015
Table 49 – Taiwan - Taiwan Mobile revenue breakdown per business segment – 2015 Q3
Table 50 – Taiwan - Taiwan Mobile subscribers and annual change – 1998 – 2015
Table 51 – Taiwan - Chunghwa Telecom mobile subscribers and annual change – 1998 – 2015
Table 52 – Chunghwa Telecom mobile subscribers market share – 2000 - 2015
Table 53 – Taiwan - Chunghwa Telecom’s blended mobile and VAS ARPU – 2001 - 2015
Table 54 – Taiwan - APT mobile subscribers and annual change – 2003 - 2014
Table 55 – Taiwan - VIBO Telecom mobile subscribers and annual change – 2005 - 2013
Table 56 – Taiwan - Mobile internet subscribers – 2001 - 2015
Chart 1 - Taiwan - Distribution of telecom revenue by services – 2014
Chart 2 – Taiwan – Chunghwa Telecom revenue breakdown – 2009 - 2015
Chart 3- Taiwan - Chunghwa Telecom fixed-line and mobile subscribers – 2000 - 2015
Chart 4 – Taiwan - Fixed-line broadband subscribers and penetration – 2003 - 2016
Chart 5 – Taiwan - Fixed-line broadband subscribers by technology – 2003 - 2015
Chart 6 – Taiwan - Internet users – 2000 - 2016
Chart 7 – Taiwan - Mobile subscribers and penetration – 2000 - 2016
Chart 8 – Taiwan - Mobile subscribers by technology (PHS, 2G, 3G, LTE) – 2003 - 2016
Chart 9 - Taiwan - Far EasTone mobile subscribers and annual change - 2000 – 2015
Chart 10 – Taiwan - Chunghwa Telecom mobile subscribers and 3G/4G proportion – 1998 - 2015
Chart 11 – Taiwan - Mobile internet subscribers – 2001 - 2015
Exhibit 1 – Major global/regional submarine cables with landing point in Taiwan – 2013
Exhibit 2 – Major broadcasting organisations
Exhibit 3 – Mobile TV trial broadcasters
