It seemed that FPT’s plan to expand its
business in the US was scuttled when Vietnam’s leading IT firm entered
the market in mid 2008—a time when the world’s largest economy fell
into a deep crisis. However, the firm held on to its foothold in the
market.
Shortly after entering the US market, the
company’s revenue quickly increased and reached 5.5 million USD in
2009. From being a largely unknown player, FPT has become familiar to
US partners, such as Free Scale and Omgeo, who have set up business
ties with the company.
Apart from the US, FPT also expanded its market to Japan and Singapore where the company reaped gains as well.
According to Deputy General Director of FPT Software Nguyen Lam Phuong,
the Japanese market brought in 56 percent of the company’s total
revenue, while Singapore brought 21 percent.
The army-run telecom group Viettel kicked off its market expansion plan by cornering the markets in Cambodia and Laos.
In September 2009, Viettel officially launched Metfone service in
Cambodia becoming the largest telecom provider in the country with 60
percent of the ADSL service provision market and 50 percent of fixed
telephone market. With 2 million mobile phone subscribers, Viettel
ranks second among nine mobile phone service suppliers in Cambodia.
The group developed the Unitel network in Laos which offers third
generation (3G) service and high-speed wireless Internet for mobile
phones and computers. At present, Unitel owns the largest number of
base transceiver stations (BTS) - more than 900 - in Laos , accounting
35 percent of the country’s total BTS.
Apart from Laos and Cambodia , Viettel plans to open a representative office in Myanmar .
To date, Viettel and FPT are Vietnam’s first two telecom enterprises investing in foreign countries.
In 2010, FPT targets a growth rate of 20 percent in software processing
in foreign markets overall, and seeks to make that figure 100 percent
in the US market alone, compared to last year. The company also plans
to open a second branch in Europe.
Meanwhile, Viettel expects that Metfone will be a network providing the
best cable services in terms of cable network coverage, quality, price
and customer care.
Additionally, the group wishes to enter the US and Bangladesh markets to expand its operation./.