On November 19, 2024, in the capital Vientiane, Star Telecom Company (Unitel), a joint venture between Viettel Group and Lao Asia Telecom of the Lao Ministry of National Defense, celebrated its 15th anniversary of business operations in Laos with the theme "Digital transformation, welcoming the future".
Attending the ceremony on the Lao side were General Chansamone Chanyalath, Politburo member, Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of National Defense; on the Vietnamese side were General Phan Van Giang, Politburo member, Deputy Secretary of the Central Military Commission, Minister of National Defense; on the Viettel Group side were Chairman and General Director of the Group, Major General Tao Duc Thang.
After 15 years of operation, Unitel has become the largest telecommunications company in Laos in terms of subscribers, revenue and network infrastructure. Unitel is one of the companies that contributes the most to the budget and is recognized by the Government and the Ministry of Defense of the two countries as a typical successful model of good cooperation between Laos and Vietnam.
Speaking at the event, Vietnam's Minister of National Defense, General Phan Van Giang emphasized: "The implementation of the foreign economic development policy and the successful business organization of Viettel Group in foreign markets, including Unitel's mobile network business in Laos, has demonstrated the bravery, responsibility, perseverance, positivity, creativity, and business efficiency of the military enterprise, contributing to widely spreading the good image and enhancing the position and prestige of Vietnam in the international arena."
At the ceremony, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of National Defense Chansamone Chanyalath awarded the Lao Government's First Class Labor Medal to Unitel. Minister of National Defense, General Phan Van Giang awarded the President of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam's Second Class Labor Medal to Unitel.
Also within the framework of the celebration, Unitel launched 5G service business, marking a major turning point in the journey of pioneering technology and digital transformation in Laos, becoming Viettel's third market to commercialize 5G in 2024.
On behalf of all officers and employees of Unitel Company, Mr. Tran Trung Hung - General Director of Unitel - pledged that the company will continue to strive to maintain its role as a leading enterprise, forever a symbol of friendship between the two peoples of Vietnam and Laos, contributing to fostering the tradition of friendship, special solidarity and comprehensive cooperation between the two Parties, two States and peoples of Vietnam and Laos to become increasingly stronger.
