Vientiane (VNA) – Star Telecom (Unitel), a joint venture between the Viettel MilitaryIndustry and Telecoms Group and Lao Asia Telecom, held a ceremony on October 23 to mark 10 yearssince they started offering telecommunications services in Laos.

At the event, Unitel General Director Luu Manh Ha said the corporation hasdeveloped global-level telecommunications infrastructure in the Southeast Asiancountry, with 3G, 4G and 4.5G mobile broadband networks offered across thenation through 8,000 base transceiver stations (BTS) and 30,000 kilometresof fibre-optic cable.

With the largest network infrastructure and more than 3 million customers,Unitel has maintained its position as the leading telecoms company in Laos forthe past decade, he said, adding, besides contributing nearly 650 million USDto the Lao state budget, Unitel has created jobs for over 20,000 local workers.

The firm has engaged in a wide range of social programmes to improvelivelihoods in the host nation, including providing free internet in schools,supporting natural disaster-hit residents, and training hundreds ofhigh-quality IT-telecoms workers,he said.

Ha pledged to modernise the firm with the most advanced technologies, andUnitel will pilot 5G technologyfollowed by artificial intelligence (AI), virtual reality(VR) and big data.

Lao Minister of Defence Chansamone Chanyalath said the Lao Government highly evaluated Unitel’scontributions to society over the past 10 years, making it the largest telecomscompany in Laos.

Unitel has reformed Laos’ telecommunications and IT sector, he said, addingthat thanks to the firm’s wide network with nationwide coverage, Lao peoplehave access to telecoms services and information.

On the occasion, Chansamone presented the Lao Government’s first-class Freedom Order(Itsala) and first-class DevelopmentOrder (Phatthana) to Unitel for its great contributions to local socio-economicdevelopment and security and defence affairs.

Vietnamese Ambassador to Lao Nguyen Ba Hung also handed over a third-class Labour Order conferredby the Vietnamese Government to Unitel.

Ha thanked the Lao Government, Party and people for endorsing the firm’sactivities, and pledged to work more to treasure the traditional friendship,special solidarity and comprehensive ties between the Parties, States andpeople of Vietnam and Laos./.