The military-run Viettel Group launched its telecom services under the brand name Halotel in Tanzania on October 15.

Halotel staff introduce products to Tanzanian locals (Photo: VNA)

The official business in Tanzania, the fourth market for the group in Africa after Mozambique, Cameroon and Burundi, is expected to help remarkably increase Viettel’s footprint and influence in the region.

With a population of over 50 million, Tanzania is the most populous nation of the eight foreign markets where Viettel is providing services.

Halotel is the sole mobile network offering 3G connectivity across Tanzania with the fiber optic cable infrastructure 2.5 times stronger than the total fiber optic cables of the country.

Viettel envisions bringing its telecommunication services and information technology to every aspect of life, contributing to the local socio-economic development.

The project won the Best Investment Project 2014 in East, Central and West Africa Region.

Viettel started investing in Tanzania in 2011. It plans to provide 3G access to at least 4,000 villages, accounting for 70 percent of the country's total number of villages by 2017.

(Source: VNA)