Viettel’s Peru branch makes $45-million 4G investment

Viettel's Peru subsidiary makes stellar investment into 4G services to further its impressive business results

According to Phan Hoang Viet, Bitel general director, in order to become the largest 4G mobile supplier in Peru, the corporation has been focusing infrastructure investments. Notably, Bitel installed 3,000 base transceiver stations (BTS) with 25,000 kilometres of optical fibre cables to improve service quality.

Along with infrastructure, Bitel has also been developing distribution channels and launching more new products to lure in customers. Notably, Bitel launched data packages with numerous incentives for students, taxi drivers, as well as households to meet the needs of specific customer groups.

In October 2015, Viettel set foot in Peru by launching Bitel. At the time, Bitel was the only mobile network with 3G coverage in Peru and reached nearly 80 per cent of the Peruvian population. It is currently the fourth largest telecommunications services provider, following Movistar, Claro, and Entel.

Peru is also considered as holding the greatest potential among Viettel’s overseas markets due to having the highest GDP, which is even higher than that of Vietnam.

A report reviewing the business results of Viettel’s overseas investments in nine markets showed that in the first six months of this year, the company’s revenue rose by 25 per cent compared to the same period last year, to around VND14 trillion ($600 million).

In the first six months of this year, Bitel reported the highest growth rate among Viettel’s foreign branches, making up 82 per cent of Viettel’s total revenue from foreign markets. Other fast growing markets were Burundi with 38 per cent, East Timor with 29 per cent, and Haiti with 15 per cent.

Regarding Viettel’s 4G services implementation, to date, the company has implemented 4G services in five markets, Cambodia, Laos, Burundi, Peru, Haiti, and Timor-Leste.

Viettel has recorded a pre-tax profit of VND1 trillion ($41.2 million) from its overseas investments, a 156 per cent year-on-year increase, during this period.

The positive results come from the revenue generated by mobile phone telecommunications services, especially new services, such as 4G, e-wallet, and large information technology projects for governments and businesses.

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