Unitel (Star Telecom), a joint venture between Vietnam’s Military Industry and Telecommunications Group (Viettel) and Lao Asia Telecom under the Lao Ministry of National Defense, was recognized as the telecommunications provider with the best network infrastructure in Laos.
This recognition came from the Speedtest Awards, presented by Ookla, a globally trusted organization. The results were announced at a ceremony in Vientiane on September 26, 2025.
Based on analysis of data collected from daily user experiences and service testing, Unitel’s Speedtest connection scores set new standards not only in terms of infrastructure size but also in speed and customer experience, reaching levels comparable to those in the ASEAN market.
This prestigious award recognizes telecommunications providers that deliver outstanding service quality, assessed across criteria such as access speed and user experience. Mr. Suchai Lolonessi, Director-General of the Telecommunications Management Department under the Lao Ministry of Technology and Communications, stated that this award not only recognizes a single organization but also a source of pride for the Lao telecommunications sector.
He said the network provides Lao citizens with faster and more convenient access to Party and State online services, as well as e-commerce platforms. Over the past 16 years of development, Unitel has expanded its telecommunications infrastructure from 2G to 5G, with nearly 10,000 mobile base stations (BTS) covering 95% of the population and over 43,000 kilometers of fiber optic cables across Laos.
These efforts help narrow the digital divide across the region and provide a solid foundation for the development of digital services.
Phan Xuan Luong, Deputy Technical Director of Unitel, said the company will continue investing in expanding its network to remote and mountainous areas, which will help narrow the digital divide nationwide. At the same time, it will strengthen measures for users’ cybersecurity.
This award not only demonstrates Unitel’s development, but also contributes to elevating Laos’ status and confirms the important role of digital infrastructure in the country’s regional and international integration.
