Taiwan’s mobile services market is forecast to grow steadily through 2030, driven by rising 5G adoption, higher mobile data consumption and telecom operators’ investments in AI, cloud, enterprise digital services and premium mobile plans.
According to GlobalData’s Taiwan Mobile Broadband Forecast (Q1 2026), total mobile services revenue will increase from $6.3 billion in 2025 to $6.9 billion by 2030, representing a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 1.8 percent.
Mobile data will become the key revenue engine as traditional voice services continue to decline. GlobalData expects mobile voice revenue to fall at a CAGR of 9.9 percent between 2025 and 2030 as customers increasingly use OTT messaging and internet-based voice applications.
In contrast, mobile data services revenue is forecast to grow at a CAGR of 4.1 percent, supported by higher-ARPU 5G plans and increasing consumption of digital content.
Average monthly mobile data usage is expected to increase from 35.8 GB per subscriber in 2025 to around 43.5 GB in 2030, according to GlobalData Telecom Analyst Kantipudi Pradeepthi. Video streaming, social media, cloud applications and other bandwidth-intensive services will drive consumption.
Taiwan 5G Share to Exceed 94 Percent
Taiwan is already one of Asia’s advanced 5G markets. GlobalData estimates that 5G accounts for the majority of mobile subscriptions in 2025 and expects its share to exceed 94 percent by 2030.
Growth will be supported by wider availability of 5G smartphones, continued network expansion and increasing demand for faster mobile broadband. Taiwan Mobile, for example, extended its partnership with Nokia in July 2026 to further expand its nationwide 5G network.
As 5G penetration increases, Chunghwa Telecom, Taiwan Mobile and Far EasTone Telecommunications are focusing more heavily on improving ARPU and monetising customers through premium 5G plans, AI, cloud and enterprise services.
Chunghwa Telecom ARPU Reaches NT$573
Market leader Chunghwa Telecom reported 13.34 million mobile subscribers in the first quarter of 2026, representing growth of 1.7 percent year over year.
Mobile service revenue increased 4.4 percent to NT$17.70 billion, while postpaid mobile ARPU excluding IoT SIMs rose 3.6 percent to NT$573 as more subscribers migrated to premium 5G plans.
Chunghwa Telecom is investing across 5G, fiber broadband, enterprise ICT, cloud and AI while expanding digital services including cloud gaming, streaming video, music, cybersecurity and enterprise digital transformation.
Taiwan Mobile Gets 68 Percent of Mobile Revenue From 5G
Taiwan Mobile reported 3 percent growth in mobile service revenue during the first quarter of 2026, while 09x postpaid ARPU increased 3 percent year over year.
5G revenue expanded 9 percent, with 5G subscribers generating 68 percent of total mobile service revenue. More than 44 percent of its postpaid subscribers are already using 5G.
The transition to 5G is also improving customer value. Subscribers upgrading from 4G to 5G generated approximately 50 percent higher monthly tariffs, while contract renewals produced an average 6 percent increase in monthly tariffs.
Taiwan Mobile is investing in AI-powered customer services, cloud platforms, enterprise ICT and nationwide 5G infrastructure to improve monetisation and profitability.
Far EasTone 5G Penetration Hits 48.4 Percent
Far EasTone Telecommunications reported 3 percent growth in mobile service revenue during the first quarter of 2026, extending its growth streak to 20 consecutive quarters.
Its 5G penetration reached 48.4 percent, the highest among Taiwan’s telecom operators. Customers upgrading to 5G generated a 42 percent increase in monthly fees, while postpaid churn declined to a record-low 0.68 percent.
Far EasTone also said it continues to maintain the highest ARPU in Taiwan’s telecom market.
Its ICT and fixed-line business recorded 12.8 percent revenue growth, supported by demand for cloud, AI, smart city, IoT and enterprise digital transformation projects.
Far EasTone plans approximately NT$9.6 billion in capital expenditure during 2026, targeting 5G infrastructure, enterprise connectivity, cloud services and AI-enabled network capabilities.
AI and Digital Services Become New Revenue Engines
Taiwan’s telecom operators are increasingly expanding beyond traditional connectivity into AI, cloud computing, cybersecurity, cloud gaming, streaming, enterprise ICT, IoT, private 5G and digital entertainment.
The transition is becoming increasingly important as voice revenue declines. Taiwan’s overall mobile market is forecast to rise from $6.3 billion in 2025 to $6.9 billion in 2030, while mobile data revenue grows at a 4.1 percent CAGR and voice revenue declines at a 9.9 percent CAGR.
With 5G expected to exceed 94 percent of mobile subscriptions and average monthly data usage rising from 35.8 GB to 43.5 GB by 2030, Taiwan’s next phase of telecom growth will increasingly depend on 5G monetisation, higher ARPU and expansion into AI, cloud and enterprise digital services.
FASNA SHABEER
