While the global telecom industry braces for slower growth and restructuring, Vietnam’s Viettel Group is charting a very different path - posting double-digit growth for the ninth consecutive year and securing the top market share in 7 out of 10 countries where it operates.

As data services mature and growth plateaus globally, major consulting firms and organizations like GSMA report stagnating revenues, especially in developed markets. A report by PwC at the 2025 Mobile World Congress in Barcelona projected annual global telecom revenue growth of just 2.9%, underscoring the sector’s transition into a “maturity phase.”

In contrast, Viettel reported a 23.9% growth rate in its international markets for 2025 - seven times higher than the global industry average. The group’s foreign operations generated $3.34 billion in revenue for the year, with Viettel maintaining strong momentum in developing countries where political and economic risks are often higher than average.

Viettel’s international mobile subscriber base reached 90 million in 2025 - officially surpassing its user base in Vietnam.

Out of the 10 countries where Viettel has invested, it now holds the number one market position in seven: Unitel (Laos), Metfone (Cambodia), Mytel (Myanmar), Telemor (Timor-Leste), Lumitel (Burundi), Natcom (Haiti), and Movitel (Mozambique).

Financial returns from these investments are also showing strong results. In 2025 alone, Viettel repatriated $385.5 million from its overseas markets, marking the fourth consecutive year of remittances nearing the $400 million mark. By the end of 2025, its return on foreign investment had reached 91%, exceeding expectations and arriving ahead of schedule.

Even in challenging markets like Peru - where competition is fierce and global telecom giants dominate - Viettel has made remarkable progress. Its local brand Bitel rose to the second-largest operator in the country in 2025, achieving this milestone two years earlier than planned.

Beyond traditional telecom services, Viettel has rolled out multiple digital platforms in its international markets. These include mobile wallets, e-government services, and digital solutions for education and healthcare. In several African and Southeast Asian countries, such services have become essential tools to improve digital inclusion, financial access, and access to public services.

Lieutenant General Tao Duc Thang, Viettel’s Chairman and CEO, described 2026 as a pivotal year: “This is the year Vietnam enters a new era - transitioning from strategic planning to bold implementation. For Viettel, our 2030 goal to become a global tech corporation is clear. That’s why in 2026, our motto is to act with more initiative, speed, boldness, and efficiency. Effectiveness must be visible in the value we create for our customers, for society, and for the country. That is what drives sustainable growth for Viettel.”

Thai Khang