Viettel marks 10-year presence in Laos, affirms leading position

The ceremony to mark Viettel's 10-year presence in Laos (Photo: Xuan Son)

With the brand name Unitel, Star Telecom is currently the largest mobile operator in Laos with 3 million subscribers, accounting for 54% of the Southeast Asian country’s market and generating a revenue of US$1.35 billion.

The company contributed US$485 million to Laos’s state budget and spent US$13 million on social and charitable programmes.

According to Star Telecom General Director Cao Anh Son, Unitel’s infrastructure has covered all of Laos’s provinces and cities with 6,500 cellular towers and 30,000 kilometres of optic cables.

Star Telecom is aiming to bring broadband internet to 80% of the Lao population by 2020, develop information systems for the country’s tax and customs sectors and deploy an electronic wall service and participate in the microfinance sector.

Speaking at the event, Vietnamese Ambassador to Laos Nguyen Ba Hung stated that Star Telecom is a typical example of effective cooperation between Vietnamese and Laos businesses.

Last May, the company was awarded the Labour Order by the Lao government for its major contributions to the country’s development.

Source: NDO