PM Le Minh Hung hails Unitel as tech pioneer supporting Laos' development
VOV.VN - Prime Minister Le Minh Hung paid a working visit to Star Telecom (Unitel), a Viettel Group venture in Laos, in Vientiane on October 9 during his official visit to the country.
Those welcoming the Prime Minister at Unitel’s headquarters were Lieutenant General Tao Duc Thang, member of the Party Central Committee, Chairman and General Director of Viettel Group, alongside Unitel’s board of management and staff.
Reporting to the Prime Minister, Unitel leadership stated that over 17 years of operation in Laos, the company has built a robust telecommunications infrastructure foundation, achieving 100% population coverage and 95% territorial coverage while maintaining approximately 57% market share. Unitel helped raise the proportion of the population accessing telecommunications services from 18% to 100%, bringing Laos' telecommunications infrastructure on par with regional and global standards.
Additionally, Unitel generates employment for over 30,000 workers, exceeding any other enterprise in Laos. The company actively implements social security programs with total sponsorship exceeding US$41 million, notably providing free Internet to nearly 1,000 schools, training hundreds of high-quality IT and telecommunications personnel for Laos, building schools and medical stations, and assisting local communities in overcoming natural disasters and floods.
The U-money e-wallet currently boasts over 1.8 million registered customers and a network of more than 25,000 transaction points nationwide, providing vital support for civil servants in remote areas to receive salaries and monthly welfare benefits. In the first nine months of 2026, the company's revenue grew by 25.2%, profit increased by 6.8%, and budget contributions rose by 15.3% year-on-year.
Over the past 20 years, Viettel has identified international business investment as a strategic spearhead, projected to contribute 70% to 80% of the Group's double-digit growth in coming years. Viettel recently expanded its market into the Dominican Republic, with business operations scheduled to launch in October 2027.
Congratulating Unitel on its outstanding achievements, the Vietnamese Government leader emphasized that the company has emerged as a leading telecommunications and digital technology enterprise in Laos, contributing to local socio-economic development and improving people's living standards.
Unitel stands not only as a bright symbol of bilateral friendship but also plays a guiding role in Laos' digital transformation process. These contributions carry profound significance in applying science and technology to elevate national competitiveness and bridge development gaps. Currently, the Vietnamese government is accelerating the modernization of digital technology infrastructure and completing digital databases across ministries, sectors, and localities, with Viettel acting as a pioneering enterprise accompanying the government in this process.
Commending the dedication and community responsibility of Unitel’s management and staff, the Prime Minister conveyed a resolute spirit of overcoming all challenges to contribute to the common development of both nations.
On that basis, PM Hung asked Viettel and Unitel to focus on efficient business operations, sustainable development, and strict compliance with host-country laws; using efficiency as a foundation to contribute more to the state budget, aligning corporate growth with the prosperity of Laos. Unitel must pioneer digital transformation and digital society construction, becoming a trusted technology partner for the Lao government, ministries, sectors, and localities.
He requested Unitel to participate more deeply in building digital government, digital economy, and digital society; moving beyond the role of a mere telecommunications service provider to cooperate with the government in solving major economic problems and pushing economic restructuring.
The company must implement decisive innovation, taking the lead in spearheading technology fields such as artificial intelligence, digital finance, cloud computing, and digital logistics to generate sustainable values and products.
Priority must be placed on high-quality human resources training, creating favorable conditions for Lao engineers and personnel to master technology and management capacity. Unitel must also continue upholding its social responsibility, particularly in education, healthcare, and assisting impoverished people in disadvantaged regions, PM Hung stressed.
Vietnamese Prime Minister meets with Lao National Assembly President
Prime Minister Le Minh Hung had a meeting with President of the Lao National Assembly (NA) Sonexay Siphandone in Vientiane on October 8, affirming the importance Vietnam attaches to the great friendship, special solidarity, comprehensive cooperation and strategic cohesion between the two countries.
Vietnam, Laos seek to deepen strategic cohesion in defence ties
Vietnamese Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of National Defence Gen. Phan Van Giang held a meeting with his Lao counterpart Gen. Khamlieng Outhakaysone in Vientiane on October 8.
