China to Taiwan phone call numbers fall for the first time in a decade

Voice communication calls from China to Taiwan fell in 2007 in terms of both call numbers and total call time for the time in a decade. Call numbers totalled 282.2 million, a 21.37% drop compared to 2006, whilst total call time was 784.8 minutes, a fall of 10.41% compared to the previous year.

The decrease in calls is the first since records began in 1997.

Business units and subsidiaries of Taiwan-based companies that have been established in China are the main user of voice communications between the two countries. The 2007 drop in call numbers is likely to be due to the rising popularity of replacing conventional telephones and mobile phones with dedicated lines and VOIP services such as Skype.