Internet Providers in Taiwan

Taiwan has excellent internet infrastructure, with fiber optic coverage in virtually all urban areas and most suburban neighborhoods. Here are the major providers:

Provider breakdown

Chunghwa Telecom (HiNet) — the dominant provider

• Market share: Over 60% of home internet connections
• Coverage: Best coverage nationwide, including rural areas
• Reliability: Most stable connection, lowest downtime
• Customer service: Largest service network, technicians available quickly
• Downsides: Most expensive, less flexible contracts
• Best for: Anyone who wants reliability above all else, remote workers who can't afford downtime

Taiwan Mobile — best value for speed

• Competitive pricing, often running promotions
• Good coverage in urban areas
• Bundle discounts available with mobile phone plans
• Customer service available in English at flagship stores

FarEasTone — solid alternative

• Similar pricing and speeds to Taiwan Mobile
• Good bundle deals with mobile plans
• Strong coverage in major cities
• English support at larger branches

TFN Media / Cable providers — budget option

• Uses existing cable TV infrastructure (coaxial cable) for internet, plus fiber in some areas
• Cheaper than telco fiber plans
• Speeds may be less consistent, especially during peak hours
• Upload speeds significantly lower than download speeds on cable plans
• Good for basic use, not recommended for heavy upload needs (remote work video calls, streaming)

Community broadband — cheapest option

• Many apartment buildings, especially newer ones, have a building-wide internet connection shared among residents
• Usually arranged by the building management committee
• Very affordable: NT$300-600/month
• Speeds and quality vary dramatically — some buildings have excellent connections, others are painfully slow during peak hours
• No individual contract — you pay through management fees
• Ask your landlord or building manager if this option is available

Fiber vs Cable vs Mobile Hotspot

When to use a mobile hotspot instead

A mobile hotspot from your phone or a dedicated pocket Wi-Fi device can work as a temporary or supplementary internet solution:

• Just arrived: Use your phone's hotspot while waiting for home internet installation
• Short stay (less than 3 months): May not be worth signing a fiber contract
• Frequent movers: Avoid contract termination fees
• Backup connection: Keep your mobile data as a failover if your home internet goes down during an important call

Most unlimited mobile data plans in Taiwan (NT$499-999/month for 4G/5G) allow hotspot tethering. However, speeds are throttled during peak hours and are not as consistent as a wired connection. Not recommended as your primary internet if you work from home.

How to Apply as a Foreigner

Documents needed

Application process

Option 1: Apply in person (recommended for foreigners)

1. Visit a telecom store — go to a flagship store (直營門市) in a city center rather than a small dealer. Flagship stores are more experienced with foreign customers.
2. Bring all documents listed above
3. Choose your plan — the staff will explain available options. Ask about current promotions.
4. Sign the contract — contracts are in Chinese. Ask the staff to explain key terms, or bring a Chinese-speaking friend.
5. Schedule installation — typically 3-7 business days after signing. Chunghwa Telecom is usually fastest. Some rural areas may take 2 weeks.
6. Be home for installation — a technician will come to install the modem/router and run any necessary cabling. Installation takes 1-3 hours depending on your building's wiring situation.

Option 2: Apply online

Most providers have online application forms, but they're typically in Chinese and may not accept ARC numbers in the ID field. If you want to try:

• Chunghwa Telecom: cht.com.tw — most complete online application
• Taiwan Mobile: taiwanmobile.com
• FarEasTone: fetnet.net

Option 3: Call customer service

• Chunghwa Telecom: 0800-080-128 (some English support available)
• Taiwan Mobile: 0809-000-852
• FarEasTone: 0800-058-885

Installation day

What to expect:

• The technician will arrive during a scheduled time window (usually a 2-hour window, e.g., 9:00-11:00 AM)
• They'll check your building's wiring and install or connect the modem (數據機) and sometimes a router (路由器)
• For fiber connections, they may need to run a fiber cable from the building's distribution box to your apartment
• In newer buildings, fiber is often already wired to each unit — installation is faster
• The technician will test the connection speed before leaving
• Tip: Ask the technician for the modem's Wi-Fi password and admin settings. The default passwords are often weak.

After installation

• Test your speed immediately at speedtest.net or by searching "speed test" in Google
• Change the default Wi-Fi password — the default is usually printed on the modem and is not secure
• Consider buying your own router if you need better Wi-Fi coverage or features (the provided modem/router combo is basic)
• Set up your bank account auto-debit for monthly payments to avoid late fees

Recommended Plans by Usage

Light use (browsing, email, social media)

Best pick: Community broadband if available, otherwise Chunghwa 100M for reliability.

Remote work (video calls, cloud apps, file sharing)

Best pick: Chunghwa 300M for maximum reliability, or Taiwan Mobile/FarEasTone 300M if price matters more. The 300Mbps tier provides comfortable headroom for simultaneous Zoom calls, file uploads, and general browsing.

Why upload speed matters for remote work: Video calls use 2-5Mbps upload. Screen sharing adds another 1-3Mbps. If you're uploading large files to cloud storage while on a call, you need even more. A plan with at least 100Mbps upload ensures smooth performance even with multiple activities running.

Gaming and streaming (4K video, online gaming, large downloads)

Best pick: The 500M plan is more than enough for 4K streaming and online gaming. The 1Gbps plan is only necessary if you have many devices or frequently download very large files. For gaming, low latency matters more than raw speed — fiber from any major provider delivers excellent latency (1-5ms to Taiwan servers).

Speed Test Results

Typical real-world speeds you can expect in Taiwan (based on Speedtest Global Index data and user reports):

Taiwan's internet is fast by global standards. The country ranks in the top 15 worldwide for average broadband speed. Fiber connections in particular deliver near-advertised speeds consistently.

Speed by city

Note: These averages reflect typical residential connections, not the fastest available plan. Your actual speed depends on your specific plan, provider, building wiring, and router quality.

Tips for Saving Money

Bundle with your mobile plan

All three major telcos (Chunghwa, Taiwan Mobile, FarEasTone) offer bundle discounts when you combine home internet with a mobile phone plan:

• Typical savings: NT$100-300/month off the internet plan
• Some bundles include free speed upgrades (e.g., pay for 300M, get 500M)
• Ask about current bundle promotions when signing up

Negotiate

• Ask about promotions: Telecom companies always have ongoing promotions. Ask "What's the best deal available right now?" The listed price is often not the best price.
• Mention competitors: "Taiwan Mobile offered me 300M for NT$699 — can you match that?" works at Chunghwa and vice versa.
• Renewal discounts: When your 2-year contract is about to expire, call to cancel. They'll often offer a renewal discount or speed upgrade to keep you.
• Seasonal deals: Back-to-school (August-September) and Lunar New Year periods often have special promotions.

Use community broadband

If your building offers community broadband at NT$300-600/month, try it first. For basic browsing, social media, and standard-definition streaming, it may be perfectly adequate. You can always upgrade to a dedicated fiber connection later if the speed isn't sufficient.

Avoid unnecessary upgrades

• 100M is enough for a single person doing normal browsing, streaming (1080p), and occasional video calls
• 300M is the sweet spot for remote workers and households with 2-3 people
• 500M-1G is overkill for most users — you're paying for speed you'll rarely use to its full potential
• Don't pay for 1Gbps unless you have 5+ devices streaming simultaneously or transfer very large files regularly

Equipment tips

• Use the provided router unless you have specific needs — it's free and usually adequate
• If you buy your own router, make sure it supports your plan speed (a Wi-Fi 5 router may bottleneck a 1Gbps plan)
• Place your router centrally in your apartment for best coverage
• For larger apartments (30+ ping), consider a mesh Wi-Fi system (NT$3,000-8,000) for complete coverage

Common Questions About Home Internet in Taiwan

Can I get home internet without an ARC? Very difficult. All major providers require an ARC or Taiwan national ID for contract registration. Alternatives for those without an ARC:

• Ask your landlord: Some landlords include internet in the rent or can sign up under their name
• Community broadband: Paid through building management fees — no individual contract needed
• Mobile hotspot: Use your phone's unlimited data plan as a temporary solution
• Prepaid mobile router: Available from some providers, though speeds are limited

How long is the typical contract? Most fiber plans require a 2-year contract. Early termination fees are proportional to the remaining contract period — typically NT$3,000-8,000 depending on the plan and how many months remain. Some cable providers offer 1-year contracts at a slightly higher monthly rate. Month-to-month plans exist but are rare and significantly more expensive.

What speed do I need for remote work? For standard remote work (video calls, email, cloud documents, screen sharing), 100Mbps is the minimum comfortable speed and 300Mbps is recommended. Here's a breakdown:

A 300Mbps plan gives you 10x headroom above these needs, ensuring smooth performance even during peak usage.

Can I transfer my contract if I move? Yes. Contact your provider to request an address transfer (移機). The process:

• Fee: NT$500-1,000 (some providers waive this during promotions)
• Timeline: 3-7 business days for new installation at the new address
• Your contract terms remain the same
• The provider will disconnect the old address and set up the new one
• Important: Check that your new address is in the provider's coverage area before moving

What if the internet is slow? Troubleshooting steps:

1. Restart your modem and router — unplug for 30 seconds, then reconnect
2. Test with a wired connection — plug your laptop directly into the modem via Ethernet to rule out Wi-Fi issues
3. Run a speed test at speedtest.net — compare results with your plan speed
4. Check for interference — microwave ovens, Bluetooth devices, and neighboring Wi-Fi networks can interfere with your signal
5. Call your provider — if wired speeds are significantly below your plan, the provider should investigate. Chunghwa Telecom's technical support: 0800-080-128

Is a VPN necessary in Taiwan? Taiwan has no internet censorship — all websites (Google, Facebook, YouTube, Netflix, etc.) are accessible without a VPN. However, you might want a VPN for:

• Accessing content libraries from your home country (e.g., US Netflix, BBC iPlayer)
• Privacy when using public Wi-Fi
• Connecting to your company's network for remote work
• Taiwan's internet is fast enough that VPN speeds remain comfortable

Frequently Asked Questions

How fast is internet in Taiwan?

Taiwan has some of the fastest internet in the world, consistently ranking in the top 15 globally for average broadband speed. Residential fiber plans deliver near-advertised speeds: a 300Mbps plan typically achieves 270–295 Mbps download in real-world use. Even the most affordable 100Mbps plans reliably deliver 85–98 Mbps. In major cities like Taipei, Taichung, and Kaohsiung, you can get fiber speeds up to 2 Gbps from Chunghwa Telecom. Mobile internet is also excellent, with 4G LTE available virtually everywhere and 5G expanding rapidly in urban areas.

Can I get internet without a local ID?

It is very difficult to sign up for a home internet contract without an ARC (Alien Resident Certificate) or Taiwan national ID. All major providers require one of these for contract registration. However, there are workarounds: ask your landlord to include internet in the rent or sign up under their name; use community broadband if your building offers it (paid through management fees, no individual contract needed); or use your phone's unlimited mobile data plan as a hotspot as a temporary solution. Many expats use the mobile hotspot approach for their first few months until they obtain their ARC.

Is there free public Wi-Fi?

Yes. Taiwan has extensive free public Wi-Fi through the iTaiwan network, which is available at government buildings, MRT stations, train stations, airports, libraries, tourist information centers, and many public spaces. To use iTaiwan, you need to register once with your passport number at any tourist information center or online. Additionally, Taipei Free Wi-Fi covers most of Taipei city including MRT stations, parks, and major streets. Convenience stores (7-Eleven, FamilyMart) and many cafes also offer free Wi-Fi. However, public Wi-Fi speeds are limited and not reliable enough for remote work — it's best used for basic browsing and messaging.

How long does installation take?

From signing the contract to having working internet, expect 3–7 business days for most providers. Chunghwa Telecom is typically the fastest. The actual installation visit takes 1–3 hours depending on your building's existing wiring. In newer buildings with pre-installed fiber infrastructure, it can be as quick as 30 minutes. Rural or remote areas may take up to 2 weeks. You need to be home during the installation — the technician will set up the modem and router, run any necessary cabling, and test the connection speed before leaving. Schedule the appointment for a time when you can be present for the full window (usually a 2-hour slot).

Related Articles

• How to Open a Bank Account in Taiwan — needed for automatic bill payment
• ARC Application Guide — required for signing an internet contract
• Cost of Living in Taiwan — internet costs in the context of overall expenses
• How to Find an Apartment in Taiwan — check internet options before signing a lease

Related Reading

• How to Find an Apartment in Taiwan as a Foreigner (2026) — Set up internet after moving
• Renting an Apartment in Taiwan: Complete Guide for Foreigners — Check if internet is included
• Best SIM Cards & Phone Plans in Taiwan for Foreigners (2026) — Mobile data alternatives
• Cost of Living in Taiwan 2026: Monthly Budget Calculator — Budgeting utilities