- Reliability
- Very high
Overall9.6/10Among the 5% fastest cities for internet
Good to know
Good to Know
- SIM cards are easiest to purchase upon arrival at Kaohsiung International Airport directly from carrier counters before immigration.
- Prepaid SIM cards are non-extendable and non-topupable in most cases—choose your duration carefully. For stays longer than 30 days, look for longer-term plans or postpaid options if you have residency.
- Fiber speeds in Kaohsiung rival the fastest connections worldwide; if fiber is available at your address, it's the most reliable choice for remote work.
- English-language support varies; Chunghwa Telecom is noted for better English customer service than smaller providers.
- Taiwan's mobile networks have not widely deployed native e-SIM for tourists yet, but international e-SIM services work smoothly with local networks.
- All three major carriers offer comparable SIM prices and coverage in Kaohsiung; choice often comes down to personal preference or network performance experience.
Home Broadband
- Typical Performance
- Residents of Kaohsiung can expect fiber speeds comparable to the fastest connections available worldwide. Median fixed broadband speed in Taiwan is around 198 Mbps with a mean of approximately 137 Mbps.
- Technology Availability
- Fiber-to-the-home (FTTH) is the standard in Kaohsiung, with gigabit plans widely available. Cable broadband via providers like Homeplus is also an option where cable infrastructure is established.
- Setup Notes
- For newcomers without local residency paperwork, prepaid mobile plans are more accessible than fixed-line contracts which may require a local guarantor.
Key Providers
Chunghwa Telecom
- Coverage
- Island-wide, excellent English-language customer support
- Technology
- FTTH and xDSL
- Market Position
- Market leader with ~55% market share
- Notes
- Most common choice for newcomers
Homeplus
- Coverage
- Kaohsiung and surrounding areas
- Technology
- Cable broadband
- Market Position
- ~15% market share
- Notes
- Strong performance for download speeds
Taiwan Mobile
- Coverage
- Kaohsiung and selected areas
- Technology
- FTTH and cable
- Market Position
- ~4.5% market share
- Notes
- Also offers cable services in Kaohsiung
Mobile Carriers
Chunghwa Telecom
- Coverage
- Extensive island-wide coverage, best in rural/mountain areas
- Technology
- 4G LTE and 5G
- Market Position
- Largest carrier in Taiwan
- SIM Availability
- Available at Kaohsiung International Airport, retail stores, and convenience stores
- Kasha Performance In Kaohsiung
- Fastest 5G mobile internet service provider in Kaohsiung (median download speed ~418 Mbps in 2021)
Taiwan Mobile
- Coverage
- Strong in urban centers including Kaohsiung, 97.20% 5G population coverage nationwide
- Technology
- 4G LTE and 5G
- 5g Penetration
- 42.5% of smartphone postpaid base as of Q2 2025
- Market Position
- Second-largest carrier
- SIM Availability
- Available at Kaohsiung International Airport and retail stores
FarEasTone
- Coverage
- Good coverage in urban areas, less in remote regions
- Technology
- 4G LTE and 5G
- Market Position
- Third major carrier
- SIM Availability
- Available at Kaohsiung International Airport and retail stores
- 5g Upload Performance
- Superior 5G upload speeds in Kaohsiung region
Connectivity Reliability Tier
Very high
Connectivity Reliability Tier Rationale
Kaohsiung has extensive fiber-to-the-home coverage, multiple robust mobile carriers with strong 4G/5G infrastructure, and reliable broadband providers (Chunghwa, Homeplus, Taiwan Mobile) with good consistent quality ratings and high coverage penetration in the city.
e-SIM Options
- Activation
- Can be activated before travel using airport Wi-Fi upon arrival, allowing connectivity immediately
- Carrier Support
- Taiwan's mobile networks do not natively provide e-SIMs for short-term visitors, but international e-SIM services are fully compatible with Taiwan networks. e-SIM carriers connect to Chunghwa Telecom, Taiwan Mobile, or FarEasTone depending on location.
- Price Indication
- International e-SIM providers available starting from ~$4 USD for 5-day plans
Prepaid SIM Cards
- Inclusions
- All plans include unlimited data; most include small credit for local calls and SMS
- Availability
- Available at Kaohsiung International Airport arrival halls, retail stores, and convenience stores (7-Eleven, FamilyMart)
- Requirements
- Passport required for registration. Minimum age 20 years. Unlocked phone required.
- Activation Fee
- NT$100
- Physical Vs e-SIM
- Both available at same price. Physical SIM provides local Taiwan phone number; e-SIM requires compatible device but avoids physical card swap.
Price Range
- 4g Plans
- 3-30 day plans range from NT$300-1000
- 5g Plans
- 3-30 day plans range from NT$500-1600, generally cost ~60% more than 4G
- Extended 30day Example
- NT$1,000
- Typical Tourist Starter
- NT$300
AI-generated estimateData refreshed July 2026
Sources cited for this category
These are the sources cited in this connectivity & internet research for this city. Individual figures may not each trace to one of them.
More About Kaohsiung
Data last updated July 2026 · Verify anything important.