The nation could see the number of 4G mobile phone subscriptions increase by more than 60 percent to 18 million by the end of this year, which would bring the penetration rate of the service in the nation to 70 percent, market analysts said yesterday.
The nation had the world’s highest 4G penetration rate last year, one year after the service was launched, and the market would continue to see strong expansion this year, analysts said.
They attributed the growth momentum to the increasing numbers of 4G base stations around the nation and a government stimulus package late last year that encouraged users to upgrade from 2G to 4G services.
The government provides 2G users with a NT$2,000 subsidy for the purchase of a 4G smartphone and a monthly subsidy of NT$200 for up to three months to help pay mobile phone bills.
The stimulus came as part of the government’s attempt to boost domestic demand in a bid to balance slumping exports caused by a global economic slowdown.
Chunghwa Telecom Co (中華電信) — Taiwan’s largest telecommunications service provider — said it expects to have 6.4 million 4G users next year, while Far EasTone Telecommunications Co (遠傳電信) and Taiwan Mobile Co (台灣大哥大 ) both said they hoped to attract 5 million users.
Taiwan had about 11 million 4G users as of the end of last year, a penetration rate of more than 45 percent, according to the National Communications Commission.
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