Hello everyone! I’m @olivertomolife and I’ve studied abroad in Kaohsiung!
If you’re planning to travel or study in Taiwan, you’ll definitely need a Sim card, right?
So, in this article, I would like to talk about when to buy a Sim card in Taiwan for different purposes.
I will also introduce the features of each of the 5 major telecommunication companies in Taiwan.
- Those who are planning to study in Taiwan
- Want to know which Sim cards are recommended in Taiwan
- Want to know when to buy a Sim card.
- When to buy a Sim card for different purposes
- The five major telecommunications companies in Taiwan
- How to contract a Sim card
I experienced a working holiday in Kaohsiung for a year from 2020. Currently, I am writing a blog based on that experience.
By reading this article, you’ll get to know about sim cards in Taiwan!
When to Buy a Sim Card for Different Purposes
The order in which you buy a sim card depends on your purpose, such as traveling or studying abroad.
Please refer to the following tips according to your purpose.
1 Buy a sim card in advance if you are traveling
If you are traveling for a short period of time, it is recommended to buy a sim card in advance.
This is because you can buy a cheaper sim card than buying one locally.
Also, if you don’t have much time, you may end up sacrificing some of your precious travel time.
Therefore, it is better to prepare your sim card before you travel.
Depending on the length of your trip, choose the one that is compatible.
On the Internet, you can buy sim cards that can be used in Taiwan, so please make use of them.
2 Buy locally for long-term stays such as studying abroad
For long-term stays such as studying abroad or for work, it is recommended to buy a sim card locally.
However, it is recommended that you buy a sim card that you can use for about a week before abroad.
This is because you don’t have much time to spare in the first week, as you often need time to process certificates and other documents.
And sim cards at the airport are often disposable, so you may not be able to use them after the contract expires.
To prevent this from happening, try to sign up with a telecommunication company in town.
Comparison of the 5major telecommunications companies in Taiwan
There are a total of five telecommunications companies in Taiwan.
Each of them has its own characteristics, so I will introduce them here.
1 Chunghwa Telecom
Chunghwa Telecom is the largest telecommunications company in Taiwan, with more than 36% of the subscribers, making it the number one company in Taiwan.
As of 2014, it had 94% of the fixed-line telephone subscriptions in Taiwan.
Until the 1980s, it was a state-owned company, but in the 1990s, it was privatized due to the liberalization of telecommunications.
Even today, half of the shares are still held by the government, and some of the executives are dispatched to the company.
2 Taiwan Mobile
The second largest company in Taiwan, with a 24% share of the total number of subscribers.
It was established in 1997 and is part of the banking and financial group Fubon Group.
It is headquartered in Taipei.
3 FarEasTone
FarEasTone is the third largest telecommunications company in Taiwan, with 24% of subscribers.
It was created in 1997 by FarEasTone and AT&T of the United States.
Far Eastern is an influential company in Taiwan, and is involved in department stores and many other businesses.
4 Taiwan Star Telecom
Taiwan Star Telecom is the fourth largest company in Taiwan with a market share of 8%.
Its predecessor, Lianbang Telecom, was established in 1999 and changed its name once and is still in operation today.
The company’s major shareholder is Ting Hsin International Corporation, a major food company in Taiwan.
5 Asia Pacific Telecom
Asia Pacific Telecom is the fifth largest telecom company in Taiwan, with a 7% market share.
The company was founded in 2000 as Dong Sen Kuan Yew Telecom.
In 2014, Apple affiliate Hon Hai Technology Group became a major shareholder.
How to sign up for a sim card
The following is an explanation of how to sign up for a sim card in Taiwan at an authorized store.
First of all, you will need your passport and residence card.
I didn’t have a residence card, so I brought my ROC unification certificate and house contract .
If you don’t have a residence card, you should bring your house contract because they will confirm that you are really going to stay in Taiwan for a long time.
I went through the procedure at the Taiwan Mobile located in the Sanduo Shopping district in Kaohsiung.
The clerks here speak English, so you don’t have to worry even if you just arrived in Taiwan.
I chose a 180-day prepaid card with unlimited access for $3500 Taiwan dollars, which is quite reasonable.
It’s great to have unlimited access for only about $580 Taiwan dollars a month!
By the way, you can extend your contract two weeks before it expires.
One thing to keep in mind when extending your contract is that if you extend it earlier than the contract end date, the end period will be moved up.
Make sure to consider your return date and other factors when extending your contract.
Follow the instructions of the store staff and proceed with the contract.
In about 20 minutes, the contract will be completed, so it’s not that difficult.
Conclusion
- Travelers are recommended to buy a sim before traveling.
- Long term visitors should buy a short term sim and then sign a contract locally.
- Taiwan Mobile is the best choice for Sim card.
I’ve introduced when to buy a sim card and the major telecommunication companies in Taiwan!
Please stay tuned for more information on Taiwan in the future.
Thank you for reading to the end!
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