The Ministry of Digital Affairs yesterday said it would review the funding program for 5G infrastructure construction and urge reasonable mobile plans in response to criticism that 5G users accounted for only 38.9 percent of subscribers as of July.
Democratic Progressive Party Legislator Lin Chun-hsien (林俊憲) at a news conference yesterday called on the nation’s three major telecoms to offer lower monthly charges, given that tens of billions of New Taiwan dollars were allocated to 5G development, but the user penetration rate has remained relatively low over the past five years.
The unlimited 5G data plans offered by three telecoms — Chunghwa Telecom Co, Taiwan Mobile Co and Far EasTone Telecommunications Co — cost at least NT$1,399 per month, Lin said.
Photo: Lo Pei-de, Taipei Times
While the cost is double that of 4G users’ NT$599 or NT$699 per month, customers do not enjoy better service quality as a result, he said, citing many as criticizing 5G services for being “expensive and power-consuming with limited coverage and a poor signal.”
The government set up a program to fund the development of 5G infrastructure, particularly base station construction and resilient network improvement, with about NT$22.1 billion invested since 2020, Lin said, adding that nearly NT$3 billion has been allocated this year.
The initial goal is to help telecoms increase their 5G market penetration and enhance network quality, he said.
However, the reality is that the industry benefits from the subsidies, while the public suffers from expensive 5G mobile plans, contrary to the original intent of the program, he added.
Lin urged telecoms to propose lower-cost 5G mobile plans to the National Communications Commission (NCC) by the end of this month.
Department of Communications and Cyber Resilience Director Niu Hsin-jen (牛信仁) said the funding program aims to provide greater 5G coverage and improved service quality for the public, as well as develop environments for innovative 5G applications, including smart healthcare, smart manufacturing and smart agriculture.
If the penetration rate remains barely acceptable, the ministry would thoroughly review the program to promote more reasonable mobile plans that allow people to share the fruitful outcomes of the nation’s technological advancement, he said.
NCC Department of Planning Director Wen Jiun-yu (溫俊瑜) said regulation of mobile plans is aligned with international practices and the three major telecoms are required to be compliant.
Telecoms are encouraged to diversify their mobile plans and required to disclose details of all the plans, he said.
Chunghwa Telecom yesterday in response said it would continue to boost its 5G network quality and provide different preferential plans, as well as integrate its strengths in channel and customer service to improve the user experience.
An industrial source speaking on condition of anonymity said that various 5G mobile plans are available on the market and not all of them are expensive.
The governmental funding was granted under the Forward-looking Infrastructure Development Program to support infrastructure development, instead of to subsidize spectrum auction prices, the source said.
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