Taiwan’s largest mobile operator Chunghwa Telecom has cut its LTE tariffs for new subscribers by 13 per cent in an attempt to expand its leadership position in 4G.

The operator, which has 11 million mobile connections for a 33 per cent overall market share, saw its share of the 4G market drop to 35 per cent in Q1 from 38 per cent in Q3 last year, according to GSMA Intelligence.

It added an estimate 500,000 4G connections in Q1 to give it a total of 1.8 million.

Rivals Far EasTone Telecommunications and Taiwan Mobile both have a 29 per cent share of the 4G market, each with 1.5 million connections. Far EasTone added about 570,000 4G connections in Q1, while Taiwan Mobile picked up 400,000.

Both operators have just under a 23 per cent share each of the country’s overall mobile market.

Chunghwa, which still offers unlimited data plans like its rivals, cut the price of 4G plans with a two-year contract to TWD988 ($32) a month from TWD1,136. The offer is available until the end of June.

Far EasTone and Taiwan Mobile also reduced their 4G flat-rate plans, the Taipei Times reported. Far EasTone matched Chunghwa’s price, but the offer, which runs only until the end of April, is available for both new and existing customers. Taiwan Mobile lowered its flat rate to TWD998 a month until June 30.

Far EasTone and Taiwan Mobile both said earlier in the year they aim to expand their 4G user bases to three million by the end of the year.