Asia Express - Mobile Communications
Taiwan's Major Telecom Operators to Procure 6.6 Million Mobile Phones in 2014
December 31, 2013

CHT (Chunghwa Telecom), Taiwan Mobile, and Far EasTone Comnmunications, the top three telecom operators in Taiwan, are expected to buy around 6.6 million mobile phones in 2014, according to Taiwan's Commercial Times on December 31. In order to accelerate 2G subscribers' transition to 4G, telecom operators will increase the share of mid-range and low-cost smartphones in their procurement, thereby slightly pushing up ASP (Average Selling Price) to between NT$8,600 (US$288.57; US$1=NT$29.802) and NT$8,800, against NT$8,600 in 2013. CHT will purchase 2.3 million mobile phones and tablets, with most of them supporting 4G LTE (Long Term Evolution). Aside from buying 2.3 million phones, Taiwan Mobile will collaborate with Foxconn and ZTE to launch its own-brand phones in 2014. Far EasTone will acquire 2.0 million phones with over 50% of them 4G-capable.