News in Taiwan

The Taiwanese digital sector is buzzing with the latest news on low-orbit satellite operational permits. Recently, the Ministry of Digital Affairs announced the initial round of reviews for telecom companies that have applied for commercial satellite communication frequencies. After scrutiny, two companies, Lung Hua Electronics and Aerkomm, have successfully passed. Lung Hua Electronics has a self-built global satellite platform that intends to offer broadband communication services for fishing and merchant ships using Eutelsat synchronous orbit satellites. Meanwhile, Aerkomm, a subsidiary of American firm AERKOMM INC., aims to utilize O3b mid-orbit satellites to target the maritime, aviation, and fixed-site markets. To ensure a fair and objective review, the Ministry of Digital Affairs and the National Communications Commission established a "Satellite Fixed Communication Radio Frequency Review Committee." The committee invited experts and scholars from various fields, such ...

Taiwan's mobile communication industry has been rapidly evolving in recent years, with the adoption of 5G technology becoming increasingly widespread. As of February 2023, the country's total mobile user base has surpassed 30 million, with the top five telecom companies having a combined 5G user base of over 7 million. In this post, we'll take a closer look at the latest statistics and trends in Taiwan's mobile communication and 5G market. Telecom Company Total Mobile Users (Millions) 4G Users (Millions) 5G Users (Thousands) 5G Market Share Chunghwa Telecom 1.107 0.851 0.256 36.5% Taiwan Mobile 0.719 0.561 0.158 22.5% Far EasTone 0.716 0.529 0.187 26.7% Taiwan Star 0.264 0.193 0.070 10.1% Asia Pacific Telecom 0.207 0.146 0.031 4.4% Chunghwa Telecom, the largest telecom company in Taiwan, leads the market in terms of total mobile users, with a user base of 1.107 million. The company also boasts the highest market share for both 4G and 5G users, with 36.8% and 36.5%, resp...

AI technology plays a significant role in the progress of multiple industries. Ministry of Digital Affairs(MODA) in Taiwan plans to address this growth from four perspectives: promoting "AI integration in industries and AI industry expansion," devising AI product testing standards, and advocating for changes to the electronic signature law to enhance the fintech application environment. The Legislative Yuan's Finance Committee will invite the Financial Supervisory Commission, Ministry of Finance, Ministry of Digital Affairs, and National Science and Technology Council to present a special report on "Strengthening Cross-ministerial Digital Infrastructure, Broadening Fintech Supervisory Pathways, and Enhancing Cybersecurity Regulations to Expedite Taiwan's Fintech Development in Response to AI Technology Adoption (e.g., ChatGPT) in the Financial Sector." According to the special report submitted by the MODA, there are four primary areas: "AI integration i...

According to a report by Taiwan's Minister of Economic Affairs, Wang Meihua, submitted to the Legislative Yuan's Economic Committee, Taipower aims to complete ten key projects in three major areas within ten years. The total budget for these projects is estimated at TWD 564.5 billion ($20.1 billion), which includes TWD 376.1 billion ($13.3 billion) for ongoing projects and TWD 188.4 billion ($6.7 billion) for planned new projects. Taipower is currently formulating the "First Phase Special Project Plan for Strengthening the Power Grid." Main Focus Key Areas Number of Subprojects Estimated Budget (TWD) Estimated Budget (USD) Promoting Decentralized Power Grid Engineering 5 63 437.9 billion $15.5 billion Promoting Reinforcement of Power Grid Engineering 3 26 125 billion $4.4 billion Strengthening System Defense Capabilities 2 2 16.9 billion $0.6 billion Wang Meihua stated that among the three major focuses of the overall plan, the projects with the largest budget allocat...

 Taiwan's Financial Supervisory Commission (FSC) is set to implement stricter regulations on the usage of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in the country's financial system. This move comes after concerns were raised over the potential risks posed by the increasing use of AI in the industry, including data privacy and security issues. According to the FSC's plan, the process of regulating AI usage in the financial system will include the following steps: Date Action March Sent out a notice to financial institutions, cautioning them of the potential risks April Tasked the Banking Association with studying the feasibility of including AI usage guidelines August Announce new regulations as part of the updated Fintech Development Plan The new regulations, which will be announced in August as part of the FSC's updated Fintech Development Plan, are expected to include a set of general principles that financial institutions must abide by when using AI technology. These principles ...

 Taiwan's mTARC, a research and development alliance under the Ministry of Economic Affairs, recently announced a new initiative at the 2035 E-Mobility Taiwan exhibition. The alliance plans to invest NT$50 billion over the next four years in research and development of electric and smart vehicles, with the aim of helping the industry establish an international supply chain. The Ministry of Economic Affairs has also revealed that Taiwan's self-developed autonomous driving technology will be exported to global markets, including Australia. The technology showcased at the exhibition has already attracted 28 domestic and international companies, leading to the establishment of three new start-ups. Among these is WinBus, a production-ready smart autonomous electric minibus that comes with autonomous driving technology and battery management systems. The vehicle has secured a NT$200 million investment from Lioho Machine Works, ltd.  to support a new start-up, "HW Vehicle," ...

Taiwan's National Science and Technology Commission has presented its "Net Zero Technology" policy for 2023-2026 to the Executive Yuan. The goal of the plan is to assist in achieving the country's 2050 target of net zero carbon emissions by transforming the four major sectors of society, industry, life, and energy through the implementation of five net zero technology fields. Collaborating with multiple government agencies and the Academia Sinica, the plan is guided by four core strategies: "people-oriented," "begin with the end in mind," "internationalization," and "future-oriented." The five net zero technology fields include sustainable and forward-looking energ,  low-carbon  and decarbonization, negative carbon, circular economy, and humanistic and social sciences. During the first phase of the plan (2023-2026), there will be a focus on accelerating the application of technology and the development of forward-looking technol...

Taiwan's Ministry of Culture has recently proposed amendments to the " Development of the Cultural and Creative Industries Act " aimed at boosting the Taiwan's cultural and creative industries. The amendments, which include tax incentives for investment and penalties for scalping, have been approved by the Executive Yuan and are awaiting legislative review. One of the key changes in the proposed amendments is the inclusion of cultural and creative industries as a national strategic priority. This means that individuals and businesses investing in these industries can now enjoy tax incentives. Under the new provisions, for-profit businesses that invest in cultural and creative projects, such as films or television shows, can enjoy tax deductions of up to 50% of their annual income tax. Individual investors who invest in startups in this field can also receive deductions of up to 50% of their personal income tax, capped at NT$3 million (US$105,000). In addition, the ame...

Taiwan is taking action to establish a set of AI regulations that reflect the country's unique needs. The government is currently drafting the "Fundamental Artificial Intelligence Act," which is expected to be released in preliminary form this September. AI has already become a part of daily life in Taiwan, which has prompted the government to develop a trustworthy AI dialogue engine (TAIDE) tailored to the Taiwanese market. This engine is aimed at regulating the use of AI and addressing concerns around issues such as data privacy. Taiwanese officials have acknowledged the rapid proliferation of AI in everyday life and the pressing need for swift regulation. In response, the government plans to work closely with existing laws such as the Personal Data Protection Act and the Independent Data Supervisory Authority to ensure that the upcoming AI Basic Law will address relevant issues. In addition to its efforts to regulate AI, Taiwan is investing in next-generation technolog...

 The National Science and Technology Commission (NSTC) has announced plans to expand its investment in 6G technology, leveraging Taiwan's existing 5G and low-orbit satellite communication infrastructures. The initiative, which was presented in the NSTC's "6G Technology Forward-Looking Layout" report, aims to position Taiwan as a leader in the telecommunications industry, by investing in research and development and enhancing international cooperation in research and talent cultivation. According to NSTC Chairman Wu Tsung-Tsong, the 6G technology will be integrated with semiconductor chips and space technology, resulting in more advanced and intricate connections between devices in the Internet of Things (IoT). By carefully strategizing the development of this cutting-edge technology, Taiwan seeks to become a world leader in the field of telecommunications, further cementing its reputation as a hub of innovation and technological excellence. While 5G technology has onl...

Taiwan's government has undergone a significant organizational reform, as the Legislative Yuan passed the "Administrative Organs Act Amendment" on April 11th. The amendment focuses on two major points: upgrading the Council of Agriculture to the Ministry of Agriculture and renaming the Environmental Protection Administration to the Ministry of Environment, while adding and adjusting subordinate organizations. The move is aimed at responding to the changing needs of national development and policy environment, as well as promoting sustainable development. In addition to the Ministry of Agriculture, the Forestry Bureau has been reorganized as the "Forestry and Nature Conservation Administration," incorporating all the business of the Veterans Affairs Council's Reforestation and Conservation of Forests. The Ministry of Environment will have new bureaus such as the "Climate Change Bureau," "Resource Cycling Bureau," and "Environmental Ma...

Dutch semiconductor equipment manufacturer, ASML, plans to invest NT$300 billion (US$10.6 billion) in Taiwan, its largest-ever investment in the country. ASML will establish a research and development facility in the LinKou district of New Taipei City, where it will manufacture optical measurement equipment for 2nm semiconductor wafer fabrication. ASML has applied for the “A+ Enterprise Innovation R&D Chain Program” and the second review meeting is scheduled for April. The review will focus on how ASML can promote Taiwan's supply chain technology upgrade and increase the domestic production rate. Officials have stated that the subsidy amount will be lower than 50% of the investment. Additionally, in the first review meeting, experts suggested that the international giant should encourage domestic industry chain upgrades and incorporate a domestic production rate into the subsidy program. ASML's investment is part of Taiwan's strategy to develop its semiconductor industr...

On March 28, 2023, the Taiwan Semiconductor Industry Association (TSIA) unveiled the Taiwan IC Design Industry Policy White Paper. The document highlights six strategic recommendations to enhance the industry's global competitiveness: Plan and promote a national-level semiconductor strategy Allocate budgets proactively to strengthen the driving force behind the industry Expand the cultivation of IC design talent by attracting overseas talent Re-examine the policy of foreign companies setting up R&D centers in Taiwan to align with the country's interests Strengthen the mastery and layout of core technologies in IC design Assist companies in integration and internationalization to promote industrial upgrading The Taiwan IC Design Industry Policy White Paper Release Conference was held on the same day as the white paper's release. Senior executives from major IC design companies, including MediaTek, Realtek, Novatek, Phison, and Himax, participated in a panel discussion to...