A celebratory event takes place in Vientiane on November 11.

Lao Telecom marks 30 years of telecommunications growth

Lao Telecommunications Public Company (Lao Telecom) celebrated 30 years of growth, expansion, and development (November 11, 1996 – November 11, 2026) during a ceremony held in Vientiane on November 11.
Over three decades, Lao Telecom has expanded its customer base to serve over 3 million Mobile Broadband (MBB) subscribers (including T-Plus) and more than 205,000 Fixed Broadband (FBB) subscribers.
Its mobile network covers 83 percent of the population, aligning with the government’s socio-economic development plan and Ministry of Technology and Communications targets.

Managing Director of Lao Telecommunications Public Company, Mr Souphol Chanthavixay, delivers a report on the company’s achievements.	Minister of Technology and Communications, Dr Santisouk Simmalavong (right), presents a Medal of Friendship to Dr Piyawat Jriyasetapong.

Infrastructure includes 13,300 base transceiver stations (2,030 2G, 3,620 3G, 6,688 4G, 906 4.5G, and 56 5G), over 224,440 FTTH ports, and a 37,945-kilometre fiber-optic network with a 6,539km, 200Gbps DWDM backbone.
Speaking at the ceremony, Managing Director of Lao Telecommunications Public Company, Mr Souphol Chanthavixay, said the company’s Party Committee and Board of Directors had steered its steady growth in both scale and quality, ensuring that infrastructure modernisation keeps pace with global developments.
The Vientiane event drew 550 participants, including Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of National Defence, General Khamlieng Outhakaisone, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance, Mr Santiphab Phomvihane, Chairman of the Board of Shareholders of Lao Telecommunications Public Company, ministers, foreign shareholder representatives, and staff, while over 2,000 provincial branch staff participated simultaneously.
Established on November 11, 1996, to advance foreign investment policies, Lao Telecom was formed through the merger of Lao Telecommunications Company and Shinawatra Telecom Co., Ltd., with the Lao government holding a 51 percent stake and Shenington Investments (Singapore) owning a 49 percent share.
Over 30 years, Lao Telecom has generated revenue exceeding 29,166 billion kip (excluding taxes) and accumulated profits of more than 6,570 billion kip, maintaining an average annual growth rate above 27.22 percent. It has paid over 5,984 billion kip in financial obligations to the government and distributed US$409 million in shareholder dividends.
Lao Telecom has also provided over 194 billion kip in social contributions, including 78.36 billion kip in cash (6.69 billion for education, 46.03 billion for mass organisations, and 25.64 billion for traditional festivals).
Material and telecommunications support included over 79.8 billion kip for COVID-19 containment, 11.9 billion kip for state remote learning and virtual meetings, 10 billion kip for the 44th and 45th ASEAN Summits, and 7.3 billion kip for flood relief, with 2026 support projected to exceed 6.54 billion kip.
The company has also improved its internal regulations and social welfare policies to improve staff living standards.
During the ceremony, the government awarded a “Medal of Friendship” to Shenington Investments and foreign shareholder representative Dr Piyawat Jriyasetapong in recognition of their vital contributions to Lao Telecom and national development.
Lao Telecom’s 30-year track record has earned numerous accolades, including Labour Medals (Classes I–III), Outstanding Businessperson Award, Outstanding Leading Business Award during the COVID-19 pandemic, International Finance Award, Fastest Growing FTTH ISP and Mobile e-Wallet (M Money) in Laos, Asian Telecom’s Outstanding Mobile Operator, 9th ASEAN Entrepreneur Award 2024, Stevie Award for Technology Excellence, ASEAN Business Awards 2024, and an ASEAN-level award from the International Telecommunication Union (ITU).
Minister of Technology and Communications and Chairman of the Board of Lao Telecommunications Public Company, Dr Santisouk Simmalavong, congratulated Lao Telecom on supporting society’s needs nationwide.
Looking ahead, he urged the company to align with digital-era modernisation policies by enhancing service quality, improving the technical capacity of its personnel, and raising responsibility across leadership and staff to meet Economy 4.0 demands and drive regional and international integration.

By Times Reporters
 (Latest Update November 13, 2026)