By Telecom Lead Team:The latest Taiwan Telecommunications report from
Research and Markets forecasts there will be 31.936mn mobile subscribers at the
end of 2016, up from 28.795 million at the end of 2011.
The Taiwan Telecommunications Report Q1 2012
report which analyzes both 2G and 3G services market, estimates that there were
28.402mn mobile subscribers at the end of September 2011, representing an increase
of 5.1 percent y-o-y.
While the mobile market continues to grow in spite of
market saturation, Research and Markets expects the Taiwanese fixed-line sector
to continue on its long-term downtrend in spite of a slight reversal in
mid-2011.
According to the report, broadband industry is expected
to expand to 28.059mn at the end of 2016.
WiMAX has got a boost in the country thanks to the
support from the government. However, the National Communications Commission’s
(NCC) plans to release six technology neutral 4G licenses in 2013 could be a
sign that the government is starting to recognize WiMAX’s bleak long-term
outlook, and cave into the growth momentum of rival LTE, according to the
report.
However, Research and Markets analysts have downgraded
the growth forecasts for 2011 and 2012 to 3.6 percent and 3.4 percent
respectively from 4.3 percent previously. This is mainly due to the slowdown in
China’s economy, coupled with deterioration in Taiwan’s leading economic
indicators.
Estimates remain below the Bloomberg consensus of 4.9
percent and 5.0 percent in 2011 and 2012 respectively and the government’s
forecasts of 4.6 percent and 4.4 percent, the agency said.
editor@telecomlead.com
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