Few people imagine that after three decades, the first wave signals from the simple BTS stations of that day would become an essential part of socio-economic life. 30 years later, VinaPhone is not only the leading telecommunications brand of Vietnam, but also associated with the development journey of the telecommunications industry and the national digital transformation process.
From the first waves to the journey connecting all regions of the Fatherland
In the late 90s, Vietnam's telecommunications infrastructure was still very limited. The concept of "mobile phones" was still unfamiliar to the majority of people. In that context, the birth of VinaPhone marked a major turning point when Vietnam for the first time built and operated a national-scale GSM mobile information network.
That was the period of pioneering people. Telecommunications engineers in the early days almost worked and studied, accessing new technologies in conditions of lack of equipment, experience and resources. The first broadcasting stations were built amidst countless difficulties, from cities to remote mountainous areas, from plains to islands.
From a few thousand initial subscribers, VinaPhone has now served more than 20 million subscribers nationwide, gradually expanding coverage, upgrading technology and bringing mobile services closer to people across the country.
Throughout its development journey, VinaPhone has always played an important role in the telecommunications - information technology ecosystem of VNPT as well as the nation. Not simply providing communication services, VinaPhone contributes to building connectivity infrastructure to serve economic, social, educational, health and public administration development.
At many times, VinaPhone's telecommunications waves have "gone ahead to pave the way" for development in difficult areas. From the Northwest highlands, the northern border, the Central Highlands to remote island communes in the East Sea, the footprints of VinaPhone technicians are still persistently present.
Behind each antenna pole, each broadcasting station in remote areas are months and days of climbing mountains, crossing streams, transporting equipment by manpower, staying up all night to handle incidents to ensure smooth communication.
There are engineers who stick to stations in the middle of the mountains and forests for many weeks. There are technical staff welcoming New Year's Eve next to broadcasting equipment on remote islands. And there are also generations of workers who dedicate their youth to the nationwide coverage journey, a silent but proud journey.
Not only expanding coverage, in recent years VinaPhone has also actively implemented programs to support people in remote and isolated areas, the elderly, and vulnerable people to access telecommunications and digital services at appropriate costs, contributing to narrowing the digital gap between regions.
Three decades of transformation with Vietnam Digital
Along with the strong development of world telecommunications, VinaPhone continuously pioneers bringing the most advanced network technologies to users: from 2G, 3G, 4G and now 5G with the fastest speed in Vietnam and Southeast Asia.
If in the early stages, the biggest goal was "having signal", today, VinaPhone is aiming to build digital infrastructure to serve the digital economy and digital society. Not only providing traditional telecommunications services, VinaPhone also strongly participates in the digital ecosystem with technology platforms, data services, IoT, Cloud, AI and digital transformation solutions for the Government, businesses and people.
In the context of strong national digital transformation, VinaPhone is also one of the telecommunications enterprises actively implementing the policy of cleaning subscriber information and verifying customer information according to State regulations to limit junk SIMs, fraudulent SIMs and improve safety in the digital environment.
In parallel with that, VinaPhone continuously develops many flexible packages with reasonable costs, suitable for the diverse needs of students, workers, business households, general workers or big data users. From basic communication needs to studying, working, online entertainment or digital business, telecommunications services are becoming closer and more practical to daily life.
That journey clearly reflects the transformation of the country: from a Vietnam with many difficulties in information infrastructure to a country with fast internet and telecommunications development in the region.
Thirty years is the journey of many generations of leaders, engineers, officials, and employees of VinaPhone. People silently standing behind connected calls, data flows transmitted, reunion moments, online meetings, digital transactions taking place every day.
Throughout that journey, VinaPhone has achieved many prestigious titles and awards at home and abroad, affirming its position as a leading telecommunications brand in Vietnam. But perhaps, the biggest "prize" is the trust of tens of millions of customers who have accompanied the VinaPhone brand through many generations.
From the "brick" phone of the 90s to the 5G era, from the early BTS stations to the modern digital infrastructure, VinaPhone has gone through three decades with a pioneering, persistent and serving spirit.
And that journey is still continuing like waves that have never stopped sending signals connecting people, connecting the future and connecting Vietnamese aspirations.
