TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — Despite being available since 2020, to date only 30% of Taiwan’s mobile internet users have made the switch to 5G, meaning only 20% of the total population is connected using 5G.
According to survey results published by the National Communications Commission (NCC) on Saturday (Jan. 29), the main reason consumers cited for not yet switching to 5G was that the existing 4G services were adequate.
“The public believes that the network transmission speed of 5G is better than that of 4G, but there is still room for improvement in (5G) network coverage,” the report said. It also found that out of the 90% of Taiwanese who use the internet at home, those using mobile internet services have always outnumbered those with fixed internet connection.
Despite the low uptake number, the number of people newly applying for or switching to 5G services increased during 2022. Total registered mobile numbers also saw a slight increase, from 29.29 million in 2021 to 29.58 million in 2022.
The report also surveyed TV watching habits, with the most popular way to watch TV for Taiwanese over 16 years of age being cable TV services, followed by over the top (OTT) TV services. Nearly 50% of OTT TV (sometimes referred to as streaming television) watchers said that they had never watched TV any other way.