The National Communications Commission (NCC) yesterday said it has approved the sale of 20 5G-compatible phone models in Taiwan, including nine models that have not yet been released.
Since 5G services were launched in Taiwan on July 1, demand for monthly plans has remained low, with consumers deterred by high prices, limited network coverage and a narrow choice of available phones.
Eleven 5G-compatible phone models are currently available in Taiwan — seven made by Samsung, two by Oppo, and one phone each by Sony and LG.
Photo: Wu Po-wei, Taipei Times
Nine of them cost between NT$20,000 and NT$40,000, while two of the Samsung models cost as little as NT$12,000.
An NCC official, who asked to remain anonymous, said that consumers would soon have a broader range of options, as the commission has approved the sale of 20 more models.
Several industry insiders have also expressed confidence that 5G phone sales would increase when new and more affordable phones are brought to market in the second half of the year.
Phone sales in the first half of the year totaled 2.9 million, falling short of forecasts, as demand was most likely affected by the COVID-19 pandemic, Far EasTone consumer business vice president Andy Tu (杜偉昱) said.
In the second half of the year, sales are expected to rebound to 3.6 million, with the release of the new iPhones and other models, which would also drive up demand for 5G service plans, Tu said.
Meanwhile, Chunghwa Telecom’s sale of monthly 5G plans is still under 100,000, company chairman Hsieh Chi-mao (謝繼茂) said, adding that the slow sales were likely due to the high cost of 5G-compatible phones.
The second half of the year would be the turning point for the company’s 5G business when more moderately priced phones become available, including Apple’s new iPhone models in late September or early October, Hsieh said.
Taiwan’s HTC Corp is scheduled to release a 5G-compatible phone by the end of the month, while Chinese brand Huawei has received conditional NCC approval for the sale of one of its models.
However, Chinese brands are still facing uncertainties over the approval of their models, as a new NCC regulation bans the use of language deemed to “harm national dignity,” prohibiting brands from describing Taiwan as part of China in their terms and conditions.
The rule, passed in an amendment to Article 20 of the Compliance Approval Regulations of Telecommunications Terminal Equipment (電信終端設備審驗辦法) in March, also allows the NCC to revoke approvals if any such language is found on a product, its packaging, instruction manual or software.
However, the NCC has already approved the sale of 5G phone models made by Chinese companies, NCC Vice Chairman Wong Po-tsong (翁柏宗) said.
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