Free Wi-Fi in Taiwan
May 22, 2013, 2:28 am
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Mar 2011
Posts: 130
Free Wi-Fi in Taiwan
Taiwan’s government has just made it easier for tourists by extending free Wi-Fi services for travelers island-wide. This follows after the government in 2011 launched free public Wi-Fi in Taipei.
In a press release on Tuesday, the Taiwan Tourism Bureau said the government has set up about 4,400 “iTaiwan” Wi-Fi hotspots at major tourist spots, transportation hubs, cultural establishments and government offices all over the island. On top of that, iTaiwan has established roaming agreements with four local governments for tourists to access other Wi-Fi hotspots including TPE-Free in Taipei City, New Taipei in the city of that name, iTaichung in the city of Taichung, and Tainan-WiFi in the city of Tainan.
All tourists need is a passport, and they can apply for an iTaiwan account at a Taiwan Tourism Bureau service counter or any visitor counter across the island, according to the press release. The entire service will be free of charge.
In a press release on Tuesday, the Taiwan Tourism Bureau said the government has set up about 4,400 “iTaiwan” Wi-Fi hotspots at major tourist spots, transportation hubs, cultural establishments and government offices all over the island. On top of that, iTaiwan has established roaming agreements with four local governments for tourists to access other Wi-Fi hotspots including TPE-Free in Taipei City, New Taipei in the city of that name, iTaichung in the city of Taichung, and Tainan-WiFi in the city of Tainan.
All tourists need is a passport, and they can apply for an iTaiwan account at a Taiwan Tourism Bureau service counter or any visitor counter across the island, according to the press release. The entire service will be free of charge.
May 22, 2013, 9:43 am
#3
Join Date: Jan 2005
Programs: Dirt
Posts: 949
It's simple enough to sign up online with a mobile phone number. https://itaiwan.gov.tw/en/regist_01.php
May 22, 2013, 1:35 pm
#4
Join Date: May 2004
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It's simple enough to sign up online with a mobile phone number. https://itaiwan.gov.tw/en/regist_01.php
This online service is only for native citizens (of Taiwan) to use. For foreigner service please refer to FAQ.
May 22, 2013, 4:28 pm
#5
Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: Hsinchu (Taiwan), Saigon, London
Programs: EVA (diamond), A3, BMI, VN
Posts: 2,960
Does seem like a pain if you can't just log on and use it.
I struggled with the free WiFi ("WiFly") at the THSR stations last week. Just couldn't get it to work - signals disappearing, timeouts etc. Oh and a stupid thing - once you've registered your mobile, you must remember your login details for future visits, even if months later. If you don't, the screen where you can recover them switches to Chinese. Ha ha ha.
I struggled with the free WiFi ("WiFly") at the THSR stations last week. Just couldn't get it to work - signals disappearing, timeouts etc. Oh and a stupid thing - once you've registered your mobile, you must remember your login details for future visits, even if months later. If you don't, the screen where you can recover them switches to Chinese. Ha ha ha.
May 22, 2013, 5:07 pm
#6
Join Date: Jan 2005
Programs: Dirt
Posts: 949
Q: Is iTaiwan service available to foreign visitors?
A: [...] You can also use a native mobile phone number or a native prepaid card number to register a account for the use of iTaiwan service or register for a TPE-Free account to log onto iTaiwan service. [...]
A: [...] You can also use a native mobile phone number or a native prepaid card number to register a account for the use of iTaiwan service or register for a TPE-Free account to log onto iTaiwan service. [...]
IIRC, when I registered for the service last year, nowhere during the registration process did it ask for my ID number.
May 23, 2013, 2:11 am
#7
Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: Hsinchu (Taiwan), Saigon, London
Programs: EVA (diamond), A3, BMI, VN
Posts: 2,960
I would guess that most foreign tourists (as opposed to regular business travellers) wouldn't buy a local SIM. If they do, well they might well get one with a 3G bundle anyway.
May 23, 2013, 4:53 am
#8
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Nov 2009
Location: Earth. Residency:HKG formerly:YYZ
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With limited "hotspots" it is really tourist option.
I still swear by my N4, Midi and PAYG SIMs for country hopping around SE Asia. Everything works within one minute of wheel down.
I still swear by my N4, Midi and PAYG SIMs for country hopping around SE Asia. Everything works within one minute of wheel down.
May 23, 2013, 9:35 am
#9
Original Poster
Join Date: Mar 2011
Posts: 130
May 23, 2013, 4:59 pm
#10
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Nov 2009
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3/4G WiFi router = Mifi.
Pay As You Go = PAYG.
Local phone account card = SIM.
I have two SIMs for my frequently visited counties. They are cheap in SE Asia; one is for the mifi with best data pricing and the other for best local and intl communication pricing.
May 27, 2013, 11:23 pm
#11
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