Taiwan’s major telecommunications companies are increasingly looking beyond traditional connectivity and into the fast-growing global cybersecurity market, as businesses worldwide confront new digital risks linked to artificial intelligence, cloud computing and increasingly connected operations.
The expansion is being led by major telecom groups and their cybersecurity subsidiaries, including Chunghwa Telecom’s CHT Security, while Far EasTone Telecommunications and Taiwan Mobile are also strengthening their capabilities for international markets.
CHT Security’s Overseas Revenue Surges
Chunghwa Telecom’s cybersecurity subsidiary CHT Security recorded NT$24.7 million (about US$776,634) in overseas revenue during the first half of 2026, representing a 233% increase from the same period a year earlier, according to reporting based on company information.
The growth was driven largely by business from overseas semiconductor and financial companies, together with expanded partnerships in Malaysia and Thailand.
CHT Security’s total revenue reached approximately NT$1.5 billion during the first eight months of 2026, up 17% year over year.
The numbers illustrate how Taiwanese telecom companies are increasingly using their network, cloud and information-technology expertise to sell higher-value digital services outside Taiwan.
AI Is Creating a New Cybersecurity Challenge
The rapid adoption of AI is becoming an important factor behind the increased demand.
Companies are deploying AI across financial services, manufacturing, healthcare and other industries, but the technology also creates additional security considerations involving data, systems and digital infrastructure.
For Taiwan’s telecom companies, that creates an opportunity to position cybersecurity alongside their existing telecommunications, cloud, data-center and information-technology services.
Chunghwa Telecom said in its 2026 guidance that it plans to strengthen cybersecurity, network security and anti-fraud capabilities as part of its broader technology strategy.
Far EasTone Builds International Cybersecurity Capabilities
Far EasTone is also moving to strengthen its cybersecurity business.
Its subsidiary Information Security Service Digital United Inc. has been developing capabilities aimed at serving international customers. The company passed an assessment by the Forum of Incident Response and Security Teams (FIRST) in November, according to Taiwan’s Central News Agency as cited in the latest report.
The move is significant because international cybersecurity operations require companies to demonstrate their ability to respond to and coordinate around security incidents across borders.
Far EasTone has already offered cybersecurity services to customers in Taiwan, including protection against threats such as malware, phishing and ransomware, through its security offerings.
Taiwan’s Cybersecurity Market Is Expanding
The companies are entering a market that is itself growing rapidly.
One 2026 market estimate puts Taiwan’s cybersecurity market at approximately US$1.3 billion in 2026, with the market projected to reach about US$2.22 billion by 2031, representing an estimated compound annual growth rate of 11.21%.
The expansion reflects broader demand for protection across critical industries, particularly as Taiwan remains deeply integrated into global semiconductor manufacturing and other technology supply chains.
Cybersecurity has consequently become more than an IT issue. For companies operating sophisticated digital and industrial systems, protecting networks and data can also be closely tied to business continuity and supply-chain resilience.
From Telecom Operators to Global Digital-Service Providers
The shift also reflects a wider transformation taking place inside Taiwan’s telecommunications industry.
Rather than relying primarily on traditional mobile and broadband services, telecom operators are expanding into cloud computing, data centers, smart technologies, information and communications technology, and cybersecurity.
Chunghwa Telecom, for example, reported strong growth in its ICT operations in August, with cybersecurity, cloud and data-center businesses among the areas recording double-digit growth.
That diversification gives telecom companies an opportunity to compete for enterprise customers that need multiple digital services from a single provider.
Why Southeast Asia Matters
The expansion into Malaysia and Thailand is particularly notable because Southeast Asia has become an increasingly important destination for Taiwanese technology and manufacturing investment.
Taiwanese semiconductor and electronics companies have expanded their international supply chains, creating potential demand for cybersecurity services that can operate across multiple countries and business environments.
For telecom groups, serving those customers overseas can therefore create opportunities that extend beyond Taiwan’s domestic market.
The Bigger Picture
Taiwan’s telecom companies are entering cybersecurity at a time when businesses worldwide are trying to balance the benefits of AI and digital transformation with the security risks that accompany them.
The latest overseas revenue figures from CHT Security show how quickly that opportunity can develop, although the companies still face competition from established global cybersecurity providers.
For Taiwan’s telecom sector, however, the direction is increasingly clear: connectivity is no longer the entire business.
Networks, cloud infrastructure, data centers, AI and cybersecurity are becoming increasingly interconnected — and Taiwan’s telecom giants are looking overseas for their next source of growth.
Leave a Reply