Taiwan to have “world’s cheapest” 5G plan: CNA

Taiwan will offer unlimited data plan for its 5G network when they go live in the second half of the year, according Central News Agency Thursday.

Unlimited data plan will start at NT$1399, which will be the “world’s cheapest,” the media reported. It is around 57,700 won in Korean won.

South Korea offers unlimited data plan, with the cheapest on offer starting at 80,000 won per month. The country rolled out 5G networks in April last year.

The priciest offered by the nation’s three telcos __ SK Telecom, KT and LG Uplus __ is 130,000 won per month.

“Taiwan, unlike the US, Japan, China or South Korea, hasn’t gotten notice in the telecom industry,” an executive from a local telco told TheElec. “It’s difficult to compared price plans directly between countries __ coverage, speed, quality and income must all be taken into account.”

Earlier this month, a 5G subscriber to local telco KT has received 1.3 million won in compensation following a complaint filed over network quality. They received 8-months of use fee around 640,000 won and 480,000 won for physiological damages as well as 180,000 for other usages.

A KT spokesman said the compensation was made from the telco not properly explaining the terms rather than a quality issue.

Taiwan Mobile has signed an agreement to get 5G technology from SK Telecom earlier this year. 

Taiwan has five telcos __ Chunghwa Telecom is the largest with 37% market share in 4G LTE. Taiwan Mobile and FarEasTone are second and third largest, respectively.

Last month, FarEasTone signed a cooperation agreement with its Korean counterpart KT to collaborate in developing new service and contents using 5G networks.