Get connected - Data Sim in Taiwan

Taiwan    |    Taipei, Taiwan

There are multiple telecom companies in Taiwan that offer tourist SIM card. I purchased from Chunghwa Telecom as it was the first telecom company I found. Exiting the arrival gates, there was a huge crowd near the telecom booth, thus I proceeded to Departure Hall and sourced for a telecom store.

Where to buy
Before clearing the customs
Once alighted from the airplane, you will be at the transit area, walking towards the customs. As you turn left towards the customs, you’ll see a row of telecom booth at the corner. You may purchase a data sim there, but these booth have tourist sim plans only, which might not be cost effective.

After you exit from arrival gates
Upon exiting the arrival gates, turn left and walk ahead slightly, you’ll see an area with various telecom booths. These booths will have a more prepaid data sim plans for selection.

Departure Halls
The queues at telecom booth might be daunting, depending on your arrival timing. A 5mins walk to the departure hall might helps to skip the agony of waiting-in-line. You may check out the floor plan of the Telecom booth/shops at Taoyuan Airport

What I brought
I was provided with the tourist price plan at Chunghwa Telecom. I was all ready to spend TWD 700 for 15 days of unlimited data, when a kind uncle (who was also a customer) intercepted the sales lady. The uncle then requested her to share the cheaper prepaid plan with me, after a quick exchange with me.

Thanks to him, despite not doing massive research prior my trip, I managed to save TWD 500. I ended up paying TWD 300 only, for Ideal Card (如意卡), with 1 GB of data and approximate 20mins of local call.

How it works (Updated 5 Jan 2018)
Tourist Plan – Charge by Days (Unlimited Data)
I computed the published plans and rates below, and calculated the average rate. For updated information and details, please refer to their website.

Plan Cost Validity Talk Time Credit Data Average
3 Days 300 TWD Continuously 72 hours 50 TWD Unlimited 100 TWD / Day
5 Days 300 TWD Continuously 120 hours 50 TWD Unlimited 60 TWD / Day
5 Days 500 TWD Continuously 120 hours 300 TWD Unlimited 100 TWD / Day
7 Days 500 TWD Continuously 168 hours 150 TWD Unlimited 72 TWD / Day
10 Days 500 TWD Continuously 240 hours 100 TWD Unlimited 50 TWD / Day
15 Days 700 TWD Continuously 360 hours 100 TWD Unlimited 47 TWD / Day
15 Days 800 TWD Continuously 360 hours 250 TWD Unlimited 53 TWD / Day
30 Days 1,000 TWD Continuously 720 hours 430 TWD Unlimited 33 TWD / Day

Tourist Plan – Charge by Data
I translated the published plans and rates below, and calculated the average rate. These plans are still posted on ChungHwa’s chinese website, but I can’t be certain if it is still valid. For information and details, please refer to their website.

Plan Cost Validity Talk Time Credit Data Average
1.2 GB 280 TWD Continuously 384 hours, 16 days 100 TWD 1.2 GB 233 TWD / GB
2.2 GB 400 TWD Continuously 384 hours, 16 days 100 TWD 2.2 GB 182 TWD / GB
5 GB 699 TWD Continuously 384 hours, 16 days NIL 5 GB 140 TWD / GB

Prepaid Plan – Ideal Card
Personally, I preferred to purchase Ideal Card instead of the tourist plans. The Ideal Card allows you to top-up the credits depending on your usage. You can read more on the plan here by visiting their website.

Depending on the plan subscribed, the validity range between 60days to 180days, which will be extended between 60days to 180days (also depending on the plan purchased) after the Ideal Card been re-charged.

Plan Cost Talk Time Credit Data Average
300 300 TWD 120 TWD 1.2 GB 250 TWD / GB
500 500 TWD 200 TWD 2.2 GB 227 TWD / GB
1,000 1,000 TWD NIL 8 GB 125 TWD / GB

Summary
I used my data mainly on…

  • Google Maps - I depended heavily on it for directions and suggestions on locations
  • WhatsApp - The images were set to download automatically but the videos were only downloaded with Wifi
  • Social Media - Facebook, Instagram on daily basis
  • Internet browser - I loaded webpages from Facebook, research on places of interest, etc.

The money was well spent, TWD 300, kept me connected with my friends for 16 days and 15 nights when I was in Taiwan. I had utilized only half of the 1GB data purchased, but I’m equipped with Wifi 24/7 for around 5 days since I’m WWOOF-ing. Being a solo traveller, the data plan also allowed me to search for information when needed.

The SIM cards are available in all sizes, both Nano and Micro.

Updated Jan 5, 2018
Pricing and links to telecoms have been updated

Verdict & Information

N.A. 

Spent

TWD  300

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