Far EasTone network coverage across Taiwan's 22 administrative divisions as of 2026

Far EasTone (FET) Review: Coverage & 5G Performance in Taiwan 2026

Far EasTone Telecommunications Co., Ltd. (FET) serves approximately 9.2 million mobile subscribers in Taiwan, leads all carriers with 72.4% 5G availability, and delivers average overall download speeds of 69 Mbps — making it Taiwan's strongest operator for 5G-first connectivity as of 2026.

Introduction

Taiwan's third-largest mobile network operator Far EasTone Telecommunications Co., Ltd. — traded on the Taiwan Stock Exchange under ticker 4904 and marketed as FET — operates a nationwide mobile, broadband, and enterprise services platform founded in October 1996 by the Far Eastern Group in a joint venture with AT&T, currently employing 7,480 staff and generating full-year 2025 revenues of TWD 110.34 billion, according to the Far EasTone Financial Report published January 2026.

Far EasTone leads Taiwan's three-carrier oligopoly in 5G availability at 72.4%, outperforming Chunghwa Telecom's 69.8% and Taiwan Mobile's 66.5%, according to Ookla Speedtest Intelligence data from the first half of 2025. The operator controls approximately 20–25% of Taiwan's overall telecom revenue market share, according to Market Report Analytics published January 2026. Following its acquisition of Asia Pacific Telecom, FET targets a combined subscriber base of 10 million — establishing it as a direct challenger to Chunghwa Telecom's 11.15 million.

This review covers Far EasTone's 4G and 5G network coverage across Taiwan's 22 administrative regions, city-by-city speed test data, customer service infrastructure with 300+ retail locations, eSIM activation since September 2022, international roaming alliances across 19 countries, and a direct competitive comparison against Chunghwa Telecom and Taiwan Mobile. Read the review to determine whether FET's 5G leadership translates into the right day-to-day performance for your connectivity needs.

Compare Chunghwa Telecom and Taiwan Mobile for additional mobile carrier options in Taiwan.

Network Coverage And Performance

Far EasTone covers nearly 100% of Taiwan's population with 4G LTE service and 72.4% with 5G networks. The operator deployed over 5,000 5G base stations across all major metropolitan areas including Taipei, Taoyuan, Taichung, Tainan, and Kaohsiung, according to Taiwan eSIM Guide published 2025. The 4G network reaches island-wide including outlying island groups such as Penghu, Kinmen, and Matsu through a distribution network of 300+ official stores and 8,000+ authorized agents, according to Truely FarEasTone Taiwan Review published October 2025.

Taiwan's geographic concentration — a densely urbanized western corridor stretching 400 kilometers from Keelung to Kaohsiung — enables FET to deliver strong in-building and highway coverage across its most populated zones. Rural eastern counties including Hualien and Taitung benefit from the 4G network backbone, with 5G availability progressively expanding to these regions through ongoing C-band spectrum deployment.

4G And 5G Availability

Far EasTone launched 4G LTE services on June 3, 2014, and 5G NR services in 2020, according to Far EasTone Wikipedia entry. The 5G network operates predominantly on C-band (mid-band) spectrum, with 98.0% of all FET 5G Speedtest samples collected from C-band frequencies — the highest C-band reliance among Taiwan's three major operators, according to Ookla Speedtest Intelligence Taiwan 5G 1H 2025 Report published September 2025.

FET's 5G availability of 72.4% in the first half of 2025 represents a 6.9 percentage-point year-over-year improvement from 65.5% recorded in the first half of 2024, according to Ookla Speedtest Intelligence Report published September 2025. The operator supports LTE Bands 1, 3, 7, 28, and 40 for 4G, and n77 and n78 (C-band, 3.5 GHz) for 5G NR.

Coverage strength is greatest in Taiwan's six special municipalities: Taipei, New Taipei, Taoyuan, Taichung, Tainan, and Kaohsiung, which collectively house more than 65% of Taiwan's 23.5 million residents. Mountain terrain in the Central Mountain Range limits outdoor signal propagation in interior counties such as Nantou, though major highway corridors maintain consistent 4G connectivity.

Speed Test Results

Far EasTone delivers average overall download speeds of 69 Mbps and 5G-specific download speeds of 218.9 Mbps, according to OpenSignal Taiwan Mobile Network Experience Report published July 2025. The operator ranked second in 5G download speed behind Chunghwa Telecom's 305.6 Mbps, and first in upload speed experience with 13.6 Mbps across all network technologies.

Far EasTone speed test results versus Taiwan's major carriers — OpenSignal July 2025

Learn more about 5G network performance in Taiwan for detailed technical comparisons across all three major operators.

Customer Service And Support

Far EasTone operates 5 primary customer service channels supported by a physical retail network of 300+ official stores and 8,000+ authorized agents island-wide. The operator's retail footprint spans all 22 of Taiwan's counties and municipalities, including service locations in Taipei, Kaohsiung, Taichung, Changhua, Chiayi, Hsinchu, Hualien, Keelung, Kinmen, Miaoli, Nantou, New Taipei, Penghu, Pingtung, Tainan, Taitung, Taoyuan, Yilan, and Yunlin, according to the FarEasTone Service Locations directory.

• Phone Support: +886-900-058-885 (domestic: 900) — Available Monday through Sunday, 08:00–22:00 Taiwan Standard Time (UTC+8)

• Live Chat: Available through the FET official website and the friDay mobile app, with customer service hours Monday through Sunday, 09:00–21:00 TST

• Physical Stores: 300+ official retail locations across Taiwan's 22 administrative divisions, including flagship stores in Taipei, Kaohsiung, and Taichung

• Mobile App Support: In-app ticket system and chat function available through the friDay app, rated on the iOS App Store under developer ID 361369422

• Online Self-Service Portal: Account management, bill payment, plan upgrades, and eSIM activation available at fetnet.net, accessible 24 hours a day, 7 days a week

Far EasTone customer service contact channels and operating hours

Compare customer service options in our comprehensive Taiwan carrier support comparison guide to evaluate response times and channel availability across FET, Chunghwa Telecom, and Taiwan Mobile.

Additional Services And Features

Far EasTone provides these value-added services for subscribers:

• International Roaming: FET partners with Vodafone and targets 19 countries in the first stage, including Australia, Germany, United Kingdom, Italy, Netherlands, and Spain, according to FarEasTone official news. The roaming network continues expanding progressively to additional destinations across Europe, the Asia-Pacific region, and the Americas.

• Mobile App Features (friDay App): The friDay platform delivers 7 core subscriber functions — data usage monitoring and alerts, monthly bill payment and invoice download, plan upgrade and SIM management, in-app customer support chat, store location finder with real-time wait times, rewards points tracking and redemption, and access to friDay Video streaming content library.

• eSIM Support: FarEasTone launched eSIM service in September 2022, supporting iPhone XS, XR, and all newer Apple models, plus select eSIM-compatible Android devices, according to Taiwan eSIM Guide 2026. eSIM activation requires identity verification at a FarEasTone retail store or Taipei Taoyuan International Airport counter, with a one-time setup fee of NT$300 per instance, according to the FarEasTone eSIM official page.

• Rewards Program (friDay Points): Subscribers earn friDay Points on monthly bills, device purchases, and app transactions. Points redeem across partner merchants including retail, dining, and travel services, and apply toward bill discounts and friDay Video subscription fees.

• Family Plans: FET offers multi-line account structures allowing shared data pools across family members, with discounted line addition pricing and consolidated billing management through the friDay app and online portal.

• Enterprise And AI Services: FarEasTone pursues AI-enabled network optimization and cloud contact center solutions for business subscribers, according to Mordor Intelligence Taiwan Telecom Market Report 2025, differentiating it from competitors through enterprise-grade service bundling.

Far EasTone friDay mobile app interface — data management, billing, and rewards features

Discover more about eSIM technology and activation in Taiwan for a step-by-step guide to setting up FarEasTone eSIM on compatible devices.

Far EasTone Pros And Cons

Far EasTone key advantages and disadvantages at a glance

Advantages

• Taiwan's Leading 5G Availability: FET achieves 72.4% 5G availability — the highest among all three Taiwanese operators, surpassing Chunghwa Telecom's 69.8% and Taiwan Mobile's 66.5%, according to Ookla Speedtest Intelligence Taiwan 5G Report 1H 2025 published September 2025.

• Top Upload Speed Performance: FarEasTone wins the upload speed experience category with 13.6 Mbps across all network technologies — faster than Chunghwa Telecom's 11.9 Mbps and Taiwan Mobile's 11.1 Mbps, according to OpenSignal Taiwan Mobile Network Experience Report published July 2025.

• Extensive Retail Network: 300+ official stores and 8,000+ authorized agents operate across all 22 of Taiwan's administrative divisions, including remote island territories Penghu, Kinmen, and Matsu, according to FarEasTone Service Locations directory 2025.

• eSIM Availability Since 2022: FET launched eSIM support in September 2022, supporting iPhone XS and newer as well as select Android devices, with activation available at airport counters and online — a faster onboarding path than requiring store-only physical SIM pickup, according to Taiwan eSIM Guide 2026.

• Strong Revenue Growth: FarEasTone posted full-year 2025 revenues of TWD 110.34 billion — a 5.5% year-on-year increase — with net income rising 6.9% to TWD 13.73 billion, indicating financial stability for sustained infrastructure investment, according to Telecompaper report published January 2026.

Disadvantages

• Limited International Roaming Coverage: FarEasTone's initial roaming alliance covers only 19 countries in the first deployment stage, compared to Chunghwa Telecom's broader global roaming footprint exceeding 200 countries — a significant limitation for frequent international travelers, according to FarEasTone official news and Truely Taiwan eSIM Review published October 2025.

• Second-Rank 5G Download Speed: FET's 5G download speed of 218.9 Mbps trails Chunghwa Telecom's 305.6 Mbps 5G download speed by 86.7 Mbps — a 28.4% performance gap on 5G-specific throughput, according to OpenSignal Taiwan Mobile Network Experience Report published July 2025.

• Third-Place Subscriber Count: FarEasTone's 9.2 million combined subscribers (post-APT acquisition) remain below Chunghwa Telecom's 11.15 million and closely match Taiwan Mobile's estimated 9.8 million — meaning FET holds the smallest subscriber scale among Taiwan's three major operators, according to Far EasTone strategic announcement published March 2025.

• eSIM Identity Verification Requirement: Activating FarEasTone eSIM requires in-person identity verification at a retail store or airport counter, with a NT$300 setup fee per instance — adding a friction step absent in some competitor prepaid eSIM activations, according to FarEasTone official eSIM service page.

Far EasTone Vs Competitors

Taiwan's telecom market consolidation leaves three operators — Chunghwa Telecom, Taiwan Mobile, and Far EasTone — controlling nearly the entire subscriber base in a tight oligopoly, according to Mordor Intelligence Taiwan Telecom Market Report 2025. Chunghwa Telecom holds 37.9% of subscriber lines and 40.3% of revenue, positioning it as the clear market leader, while FarEasTone differentiates through 5G availability leadership and AI-enabled enterprise services.

Far EasTone vs Chunghwa Telecom vs Taiwan Mobile — key performance metrics 2025–2026

FarEasTone is the strongest choice for subscribers who prioritize 5G network availability and upload speed performance. Chunghwa Telecom delivers superior raw download speeds and the widest international roaming network, making it better suited for heavy data users and frequent international travelers. Taiwan Mobile differentiates through fintech partnerships and bundled streaming content, appealing to subscribers who value lifestyle service integration alongside mobile connectivity.

Read the detailed Far EasTone vs Chunghwa Telecom comparison or explore Taiwan Mobile's full review for alternative options in Taiwan's mobile market.

Frequently Asked Questions About Far EasTone

Does Far EasTone Have 5G Coverage In Taiwan?

Far EasTone operates Taiwan's most widely available 5G network at 72.4% 5G availability as of the first half of 2025, outperforming Chunghwa Telecom at 69.8% and Taiwan Mobile at 66.5%. The 5G network runs predominantly on C-band (n77 and n78, 3.5 GHz) frequencies, with 98.0% of all FET 5G samples collected from C-band spectrum, according to Ookla Speedtest Intelligence Taiwan 5G Report published September 2025.

How Fast Is Far EasTone's Mobile Internet Speed?

Far EasTone delivers average overall download speeds of 69.0 Mbps and upload speeds of 13.6 Mbps across all network technologies. On 5G specifically, FET achieves 218.9 Mbps average download speed. The operator ranks first in upload speed experience among Taiwan's three major carriers, according to OpenSignal Taiwan Mobile Network Experience Report published July 2025.

What Areas Does Far EasTone Cover In Taiwan?

Far EasTone's 4G network covers nearly 100% of Taiwan's population across all 22 counties and municipalities, including Penghu, Kinmen, and Matsu. 5G coverage concentrates in the six special municipalities — Taipei, New Taipei, Taoyuan, Taichung, Tainan, and Kaohsiung — with ongoing expansion to eastern counties Hualien and Taitung, according to FarEasTone official coverage data and Ookla 2025.

How Do I Contact Far EasTone Customer Service?

Far EasTone customer service operates through five channels: phone at 900 (domestic) available Monday through Sunday 08:00–22:00 TST, live chat via friDay app or fetnet.net Monday through Sunday 09:00–21:00 TST, 300+ retail stores, a 24/7 online self-service portal, and in-app support tickets. Physical stores cover all 22 administrative divisions including Taipei, Kaohsiung, and Taichung as priority service cities.

Does Far EasTone Support eSIM?

Far EasTone supports eSIM since September 2022, compatible with iPhone XS, iPhone XR, and all newer Apple models, as well as select eSIM-enabled Android devices. Activation requires in-person identity verification at a retail store or Taipei Taoyuan International Airport eSIM counter, with a one-time NT$300 setup fee per instance, according to the FarEasTone official eSIM service page.

What Countries Does Far EasTone Roaming Cover?

Far EasTone's Vodafone-alliance roaming network covers 19 countries in the first deployment stage, including Australia, Germany, United Kingdom, Italy, Netherlands, and Spain. Additional destinations across Europe, the Asia-Pacific region, and the Americas are being progressively launched, according to FarEasTone official news on the Vodafone roaming partnership.

How Does Far EasTone Compare To Chunghwa Telecom?

Far EasTone leads Chunghwa Telecom in 5G availability (72.4% vs 69.8%) and upload speed experience (13.6 Mbps vs 11.9 Mbps), while Chunghwa Telecom leads in overall download speed (98.8 Mbps vs 69.0 Mbps), subscriber count (11.15M vs 9.2M), and international roaming reach. FarEasTone is the stronger choice for 5G network access, while Chunghwa Telecom suits heavy data downloaders and frequent international travelers, according to OpenSignal July 2025 and Ookla September 2025.

What Is The Best Far EasTone Feature?

Far EasTone's best feature is its industry-leading 5G availability of 72.4% — the highest among all three Taiwanese carriers as of the first half of 2025. This is reinforced by C-band 5G infrastructure where 98.0% of 5G traffic runs on mid-band spectrum, delivering consistent indoor and outdoor 5G signal in Taiwan's major urban centers, according to Ookla Speedtest Intelligence Taiwan 5G 1H 2025 Report published September 2025.

Conclusion

Far EasTone delivers Taiwan's widest 5G availability at 72.4% with strong upload performance — making it the top pick for 5G-first subscribers across Taiwan's major cities. Visit fetnet.net to compare current plans and activate your SIM or eSIM.

Explore more mobile carrier options through our complete Taiwan carrier directory or learn how to choose the right carrier for your needs in Taiwan.

Last Updated: April 10, 2026

Sources:

1. Ookla Speedtest Intelligence, Closing The Gap Between 5G Network Reach And User Adoption — Taiwan 5G 1H 2025 Report, September 2025

2. OpenSignal via Taiwan News, Taiwan Mobile Network Experience Report — Chunghwa Telecom tops 5G Ranking, July 2025

3. Telecompaper, Far EasTone Revenue Climbs 5.5% In 2025 Fueled By Accelerated 5G Adoption, January 2026

4. Far Eastern Group, Far EasTone Targeting 10M Subscribers — Post-APT Acquisition Strategy, March 2025

5. Far EasTone Official eSIM Service Page — Activation Requirements and Fees, 2025

6. Far EasTone Telecommunications Co., Ltd. Official Website — fetnet.net

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