Viettel launches 4G in East Timor

Vietnam’s Viettel has launched 4G services in East Timor through its subsidiary in the market Telemor.

The launch in East Timor marks the Viettel group’s sixth 4G launch outside Vietnam, and follows launches in Burundi, Cambodia, Haiti, Laos, and Peru.

Viettel first entered East Timor in 2013, investing $15 million to deploy a mobile network covering 95% of the population within a year. The company was able to achieve profitability within ix months, generating $17 million in revenue and $4 million in profit in its first year.

The company has now captured a roughly 47% share of the market, making it the incumbent operator in the market, ahead of competitors Timor Telecom and Telkomcel.

According to the report, Viettel increased its revenue in East Timor by 29% year-on-year during the first half of 2017 and attracted 42% more new subscribers than anticipated.