Unitel is a joint-venture between the Military Industry-Telecoms Group (Viettel) of the Ministry of National Defense (MND) of Vietnam and Lao Asia Telecom under the Lao MND. Recently, it has held a ceremony to mark its 15 years of operation in Laos.
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Unitel is now the largest telecommunications company in Laos in terms of subscribers, revenue and network infrastructure. |
Unitel is one of the companies that contribute the most to the budget and is recognized by the Governments and Defense Ministries of both countries as a typical successful model of flourishing cooperation between Laos and Vietnam.
The company ranks first in network infrastructure with more than 9,000 BTSs, including 5,000 4G stations, 42,000 km of fiber optic cable. Its network has reached 94% of the entire territory of Laos, of which 4G coverage accounting for 83%, placing it the No.1 in network coverage in the Southeast Asian country, making Laos one of the countries with the best telecommunications infrastructure in the region.
In terms of business, Unitel holds No.1 position in overall market share in different fields, including 57% of market share in the mobile sector, 58% in fixed broadband, and 73% in e-wallet.
Attentively, it is also the No.1 enterprise in providing information technology solutions for Lao government and businesses, especially in healthcare, education, energy and cyberspace.
For Unitel, doing business is closely linked to social responsibility. Therefore, it is the second largest tax and budget payer in Laos, and the first in the telecommunications sector. Up to now, Unitel has contributed more than USD 613 million to Laos’ state budget, solving the largest employment problem in Laos when generating jobs to nearly 30,000 workers. Its total budget for sponsorship and charity activities is up to USD 30 million.
Unitel also takes the lead in digital transformation, bringing Industry 4.0 technologies to the Lao people. It strongly commits itself to accompanying the Lao Government in digital transformation and e-Government infrastructure building. Such platforms as LaoApp, LaoTV, and U-Money e-wallet are modern utilities helping to improve the quality of life for millions of Lao people. In particular, U-Money e-wallet with more than 1.6 million subscribers has contributed to promoting e-payments in both urban and rural areas, supporting the comprehensive digital transformation process.
Within the framework of the aforementioned ceremony, Unitel launched its commercial 5G service, a major turning point in the journey of pioneering technology and digital transformation in Laos, turning Laos into Viettel's third market for 5G commercialization in 2024.
Translated by Chung Anh