Currently present in 11 countries and serving nearly 90 million customers, Viettel Global holds leading mobile market share in seven international markets. However, its international expansion goes beyond telecommunications business, as the company also plays a role in fostering diplomatic connections and promoting Vietnam globally.
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The Vietnamese national flag flies at a telecommunications base station built amidst the rugged mountainous terrain of Peru. |
Viettel has adopted a unique approach to overseas investment by building extensive infrastructure and ensuring nationwide coverage, even in remote areas. This strategy brings telecommunications and technology to populations previously unfamiliar with such services.
In 2010, following a devastating earthquake in Haiti that killed over 300,000 people, Viettel personnel under the Natcom brand arrived within three days to restore networks. After 12 years, Natcom helped Haiti develop the Caribbean’s largest fiber-optic infrastructure and achieved the top market share. Similarly, during Burundi's 2015 political instability, while other international investors withdrew, Viettel staff remained to ensure local communication. Consequently, Viettel became the market leader within six months and now holds 88% of the mobile market.
In Myanmar, after a 7.7-magnitude earthquake in March 2025, Viettel’s Mytel brand quickly restored over 1,600 base stations, distributed 30,000 free SIM cards, and installed emergency charging stations. The branch led efforts to restore networks for search and rescue operations.
Beyond business, Viettel actively promotes Vietnamese culture globally. These efforts range from sharing traditional foods like "banh chung" and "nem" during Lunar New Year in Timor-Leste to organizing commemorative activities by Metfone in Cambodia. Additionally, the image of Bitel engineers working in minus nine degrees Celsius on Peruvian mountain peaks has fostered a lasting connection with local communities.
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The Vietnamese national flag is displayed at a social welfare event jointly organized by Halotel and the Vietnamese Embassy in Tanzania. |
Viettel Global is recognized as a responsible technology enterprise through its social welfare initiatives. Viettel Peru provides free Internet to nearly 5,000 schools, 112 healthcare facilities, and 166 government agencies, while the Mozambique branch connects over 2,500 schools nationwide.
President Evariste Ndayishimiye of Burundi affirmed that Viettel’s investment during his country’s reconstruction demonstrated Vietnam’s strong commitment. Meanwhile, President Jose Ramos-Horta of Timor-Leste acknowledged the company’s role in mitigating cybersecurity risks.
In 2006, just two years after launching its mobile network, Viettel made the bold move to expand globally. Lieutenant General Tao Duc Thang, Chairman and General Director of Viettel Group, stated that overseas investments align with political, social, and defense tasks, promoting cultural diplomacy and enhancing Vietnam’s international image.
Unlike major corporations like Vodafone or Orange, Viettel invests in developing markets with high demand but poor infrastructure. Its strategy is summarized as “fast – rapid – infrastructure first, business follows.” By expanding fiber-optic networks to remote areas, Viettel has slashed telecommunications costs. In Peru, service prices fell 30 times, while in Timor-Leste, they dropped nearly 20 times.
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Engineers of Lumitel (Viettel’s Burundi branch) at a base station construction site in Burundi |
Viettel’s network deployment is remarkably fast, typically taking only 1 to 1.5 years. High coverage rates have propelled Viettel’s subsidiaries to market leadership within six months in Burundi, one year in Timor-Leste, two years in Cambodia and Laos, and three years in Myanmar.
International experts note that Viettel Global’s expansion outpaces firms like Singtel and SK Telecom. In 2025, revenue exceeded VND 44 trillion, with an annual growth rate of 20%, nearly six times the global telecom average.
Operating over 45,000 base stations and 220,000 kilometers of fiber-optic cables across three continents, Viettel provides a platform for other Vietnamese enterprises to expand globally. The company has launched 5G in five markets and manages e-wallet services with 25 million subscribers.
Beyond profit, Viettel’s presence in 11 countries marks a strategic footprint for Vietnam. These activities promote defense diplomacy and safeguard national interests while reinforcing Vietnam’s global position through sustained contributions.
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Viettel’s Peru branch provides free Internet access to nearly 5,000 schools. |
During a visit to Viettel’s Cambodia branch in July 2024, Party General Secretary To Lam (in the role of Vietnamese State President at that time) commended the company’s overseas investments for enhancing Vietnam’s image and standing beyond economic aspects. Similarly, during a visit to Viettel’s Peru branch in November 2024, State President Luong Cuong highlighted the pioneering role of military enterprises in expanding international economic and technological cooperation.
After 20 years, Viettel Global’s journey stands as a vivid example of how a company from a developing country can build a global technology network, elevate national standing, and contribute to Vietnam’s deeper international integration.
Translated by Trung Thanh