This result marked a breakthrough for Viettel after two consecutive years ranked second, officially moving to the top global position in telecom brand strength. The achievement has come as a surprise to many observers.
According to Brand Finance, it is important to distinguish between “brand strength” and “brand value.” Brand value reflects the financial worth of a brand and is closely linked to revenue, profit and future growth prospects.
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This marks the first time Viettel has become the world’s No.1 telecom brand in terms of brand strength. |
Meanwhile, brand strength reflects the level of reputation, trust and customer attachment to a brand. The index is measured by Brand Finance through consumer surveys and evaluations based on various criteria such as reliability, brand preference, likelihood of choosing the brand and willingness to recommend it to others. Brand strength has a significant impact on overall brand value.
In the 2026 ranking, Viettel achieved a BSI score of 89.9 out of 100, the highest among telecom brands leading the brand strength category over the past three years. The result indicates that the Viettel brand enjoys a very high level of trust and loyalty from customers.
Lorenzo Coruzzi, Valuation Director at Brand Finance, commented that Viettel achieved very high scores across several key indicators in Brand Finance’s research, particularly in reputation, reliability and customers’ willingness to recommend the brand. This showed that the group not only has strong brand recognition but has also built a powerful connection with customers in its markets.
In terms of brand value, Viettel is currently valued at 7.9 billion USD, making it the largest telecommunications company in Southeast Asia and placing it among the top 20 telecom brands in the world. It is also the only Vietnamese enterprise included in the Global Top 500 ranking.
Brand Finance is one of the world’s leading brand valuation consultancies, established in 1996 and headquartered in London, the U.K., with a presence in more than 20 countries. Each year, Brand Finance evaluates over 70,000 brands worldwide.
Brand Finance is the only organization that owns a brand valuation methodology compliant with ISO 10668, the international standard for brand valuation. Under this methodology, brand value is determined based on three main factors: Brand Strength Index (BSI), the industry royalty rate and a company’s forecast revenue.
Translated by Chung Anh