The number of users on Zalo, the mobile-based free texting and calling app, is now equal to half of Vietnam's population and matches the number of subscribers of the country's biggest mobile carrier.

The operator of the app announced that it reached a new milestone of 45 million users on February 24, a significant expansion from one million users in March 2013.

According to tech website ICTnews, the number of Zalo users matches that of the Viettel Corporation, which is Vietnam's largest mobile network operator.

Vietnam's population reached 90 million in November 2013.

VNA