(KPL) Star Telecom Company (Unitel) marked its 15th founding anniversary (Oct 16, 2009–2024) with a grand ceremony held in Vientiane on Nov 19.

The event was attended by Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of National Defense Gen. Chansamone Chanyalath, Vietnam’s Minister of National Defense Gen. Phan Van Giang, the Vietnamese Ambassador to Laos, and other ministers and high-ranking officials.

In his remarks, Lt. Gen. Vongkham Phommachack, Deputy Minister of National Defense and Chairman of Star Telecom, praised Unitel’s remarkable progress over the past 15 years.

Since its inception in 2009, Unitel has built a robust telecommunications network, establishing itself as a leading telecom operator in Laos.

Key achievements highlighted include: installing over 9,000 base stations, deploying more than 38,000 km of optical fiber, achieving 91% geographical coverage nationwide and reaching 83% of the population.

Unitel has also introduced 4G services and is actively expanding its 5G infrastructure, positioning Laos as a regional leader in telecommunications development.

Despite operating in a competitive market with five telecom providers, Unitel has attracted 3.6 million users and played a vital role in advancing Laos’ digital transformation. The company has created over 27,000 jobs and supported key government initiatives, including e-government infrastructure, healthcare, education, and disaster relief efforts.

For its outstanding contributions, Unitel has been honored with several prestigious awards, including the First Class Issara Medal, the First Class Development Medal from the Lao government, and the Third Class Labor Medal from Vietnam. These accolades highlight Unitel’s role as a model enterprise driving economic and social development in both Laos and Vietnam.

KPL