Viettel publishes its first sustainable development report

The Military Industry-Telecoms Group (Viettel) has just released its 2024 Sustainable Development Report, demonstrating its commitment to business development associated with environmental, social and corporate governance (ESG) responsibilities.

Viettel deploys the first 5G network in Vietnam.

The report is built on widely applied international standards such as GRI (Global Reporting Initiative) and SASB (Sustainability Accounting Standards Board) - two standard frameworks used by the world's leading corporations such as Samsung, Microsoft or Toyota in ESG disclosure.

The report reflects how Viettel realizes the philosophy of “Technology with Heart” through three strategic pillars: Technology for people, Technology for the environment and Responsible Technology.

In the first year of publishing the sustainable development report, Viettel has shown its efforts to contribute to the completion of 8/17 United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (UN SDG), including: SDG 1 - Poverty eradication, SDG 2 - Zero hunger, SDG 3 - Good health and well-being, SDG 4 - Quality education, SDG 8 - Good jobs and economic growth, SDG 9 - Industry, innovation and infrastructure, SDG 10 - Reduced inequality, and SDG 13 - Climate action.

Technology for people

In 2024, Viettel will continue to expand its digital infrastructure, covering 4G to 98% of the population and deploying the first commercial 5G network in Vietnam, serving 148 million customers in 11 countries.

Viettel is a pioneer in popularizing technology initiatives, ensuring that “no one is left behind” in the digital age. The “School Internet” program has brought 23,000km of free fiber optic cable to 38,000 educational institutions, helping 25 million teachers and students access high-speed Internet.

In the field of health and social security, the "Heart for Children" program continues to be maintained, bringing the total number of free heart surgeries for children in difficult circumstances to 7,034 since 2008. In 2024 alone, Viettel will spend 740 billion VND on social responsibility activities, contributing to promoting education, health care and digital transformation of the community, especially in remote areas.

Technology for the environment

Along with social goals, Viettel identifies environmental technology as the foundation for a sustainable future. In 2024, the Group will put into operation the largest Data Center in Vietnam in Hoa Lac, a symbol of green digital infrastructure.

The center achieves a power efficiency index (PUE) of 1.4-1.5, meaning that only 1.4-1.5 kW hours of total electricity are needed to provide 1 kW hour of net electricity to the server - a world-leading efficiency level (compared to the global average of 1.6-1.8). The project uses 30% renewable energy, helping to reduce power consumption by up to 30% compared to the traditional model.

Also in 2024, Viettel Logistics Park will be inaugurated - the most modern logistics project in Vietnam, meeting international LEED standards with more than 3,300 trees, operating systems applying IoT, AI, 5G and Digital Twin, thereby significantly reducing operating costs and CO₂ emissions.

In addition, energy management technology platforms such as PCTT 3.0 help extend the battery life of base stations by 20%, while reducing nearly 1 million tons of CO₂ emissions each year, contributing to Vietnam's Net Zero 2050 target. Viettel also promotes research on green technologies such as solar inverters, mini wind turbines and recycled Vanadium batteries, to optimize energy and reduce environmental impact throughout the entire operation chain.

Responsible Technology

Viettel demonstrates its responsibility for sustainable development in transparent governance and human resource development. In 2024, the Group will achieve consolidated revenue of VND 190,400 billion, pre-tax profit of VND 51,600 billion and pay VND 46,550 billion to the State budget, continuing to be one of the largest contributors to the national budget.

With 53,000 employees, Viettel has been honored as “Vietnam’s Best Workplace” for 8 consecutive years and is the enterprise with the most patents in Vietnam - 133 domestic patents and 40 patents in the US.

Internationally, Viettel was ranked Top 3 globally by Fortune magazine in the "Change the World 2024" ranking, while maintaining its position as Top 2 in the world in terms of telecommunications brand strength according to Brand Finance, and has been the most valuable brand in Vietnam for 9 consecutive years.

In the report, Lieutenant General Tao Duc Thang - Chairman and General Director of Viettel Group emphasized: “The foundation for a developing enterprise is society. Viettel is committed to reinvesting in the community by linking production and business activities with social responsibility and environmental protection. Viettel will continue to bring high technology into life, to make life better every day; contribute to building a digital government, digital economy and digital society for happier people”.

Viettel Group said that in the 2025-2030 period, it will continue to expand ESG initiatives, promote clean energy conversion, comprehensively digitize operations and popularize technology to all people, contributing to creating a sustainable future for people and the green planet.

Ha Linh

Source: https://nhandan.vn/viettel-lan-dau-cong-bo-bao-cao-phat-trien-ben-vung-post919146.html