Taiwan's broadband density and penetration both fourth in world

September 20, 2004

Taiwan's Internet population has grown by over one million from 11.75 million in mid-July 2003 to 12.74 million in mid-July of this year, according to a survey conducted by Taiwan Network Information Center in July. This means a whopping 61.17% of Taiwanese are using the Internet for such pastimes as gaming, shopping, surfing and dating. Of these Internet users, 9.36 million, or 48.99% of the total population of Taiwan, use broadband connections to pursue online interests. Also, 68.85% of Taiwanese households, totaling 4.86 million households, have Internet connections, with 49.47% households, accounting for 3.49 million users, actually using these connections. These figures place Taiwan fourth globally for both broadband density and penetration.

Northern Taiwan still posts the highest broadband penetration, at 56.76%. It is followed by Southern Taiwan, at 45.08%, Central Taiwan, at 42.49%, and Eastern Taiwan, at 31.54%. Of those households that have yet to get on the broadband wagon, 54.68% express their desire to do so within the next half year.

The survey reveals that the sexes make almost equal use of the Internet, with 63% of men and 59% of women going online. The primary activities Taiwanese pursue online are surfing websites (71.71%), checking and sending email (50.63%), Internet gaming (18.11%) and instant messaging and online chatting (16.21%).

The survey's findings also reveal that 74.02% of Taiwan's broadband users use ADSL connections. Of these ADSL users, 77.59% use the Hinet service run by Taiwan's former telecom monopoly Chunghwa Telecom, while just 4.89% use the number two ADSL service Seednet.

(Central News Agency, Digitimes)

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