Movitel, a telecom joint venture between Viettel Group and SPI in Mozambique, has been honored with the prestigious Mobile Innovations Awards for enterprises in the Europe, Middle East, and Africa (EMEA) region. This remarkable achievement marks the third consecutive year that Movitel has been recognized for its outstanding contributions and groundbreaking advancements in mobile technology.

The award bestowed upon Movitel falls under a category that is not open to individual entries but is rather evaluated by a panel of judges based on all the shortlisted participants. Movitel emerged victorious amidst fierce competition from prominent telecom and e-commerce companies, thanks to its exceptional mobile operating solution in Mozambique. The core concept behind this solution is to view telecom services as an essential commodity that is accessible to everyone, irrespective of their location or financial circumstances. This investment strategy, successfully implemented by Viettel in various telecommunications projects across different nations, has propelled Movitel ahead of its competitors.

Telecom companies employ diverse business models to operate. For instance, Vodacom follows a conventional approach by establishing a fundamental network infrastructure and subsequently focusing on marketing and sales activities targeting potential customer bases. Another example is Airtel, which adopts an infrastructure sharing model for its telecom ventures in numerous countries. As a latecomer to the Mozambican telecom market, Movitel has chosen to invest in a robust network infrastructure and a comprehensive distribution channel that covers the entire country, enabling the provision of services nationwide.

While the urban market, encompassing 40% of the total population, is witnessing intense competition among operators, the rural areas have often been neglected. Recognizing this disparity, Movitel has embraced an initiative aimed at providing comprehensive telecom services in rural and underserved regions of Mozambique, including mobile, fixed phone, and Internet connectivity. The company has established an extensive network infrastructure comprising 2,800 towers, accounting for 50% of the nationwide total, and 25,000 kilometers of fiber optic cable, accounting for 70% of the nationwide coverage. Moreover, Movitel has established a wide-ranging supply chain that extends to every village, encompassing 153 shops, 12,600 agents and points of sale, and nearly 4,000 direct sales staff. Notably, to cater to the scattered and sparsely populated areas in Mozambique, Movitel has implemented a door-to-door service model. This unique approach enables Movitel to rapidly expand its services while garnering strong support from local communities, who appreciate the convenience of receiving assistance at their doorstep. As a result, Movitel currently holds over 80% market share in rural areas.

Additionally, Movitel's customer-centric approach includes flexible and affordable tariff plans tailored to different customer segments, facilitating wider access to telecom services. Furthermore, with a focus on sustainable development rather than immediate profits, Movitel has undertaken various social programs. These initiatives include providing free broadband Internet to schools, subsidizing handset costs for rural users, and offering special packages designed to support low-income users such as farmers and students.

By deploying a mobile network infrastructure in rural and remote areas, providing free Internet access to 2,500 schools, and generating nearly 20,000 jobs in rural areas, Movitel has made significant contributions to enhancing the telecommunications landscape of Mozambique and paving the way for e-commerce. Over the course of two years, Movitel's initiatives have increased nationwide telecommunications coverage from 60% to 85% and expanded population coverage from 35% to 70%. As a result, Mozambique now ranks among the top three nations in terms of fiber optic infrastructure in Sub-Saharan Africa.

Consequently, Movitel has established a mutually beneficial platform for both its customers and the company itself. The company's initiatives have resulted in a substantial increase in its subscriber base and market share. Customers benefit from a robust and reliable network available throughout