The Vietnamese telecom giant earned a Brand Strength Index (BSI) score of 89.9 out of 100 and the highest possible AAA+ rating, Brand Finance said in a report on Friday.

The result marks a breakthrough for Viettel after two consecutive years in second place, allowing the Vietnamese telecom operator to climb to the top of the global telecom industry in terms of brand strength.

Brand Finance notes that brand strength differs from brand value. Brand value reflects the financial worth of a brand and is closely linked to revenue, profitability, and future growth prospects.

Brand strength, by contrast, measures the level of trust, credibility, and loyalty customers associate with a brand. The index is calculated through consumer surveys and analysis of indicators such as reliability, customer preference, likelihood of choosing the brand, and willingness to recommend it to others.

With a BSI score of 89.9, Viettel achieved the highest score recorded among telecom brands ranked for brand strength over the past three years, underscoring strong customer trust and engagement with the company’s services.

“Viettel scored highly across several key metrics in Brand Finance’s research, particularly reputation, reliability, and customers’ willingness to recommend the brand,” said Lorenzo Coruzzi, director of Valuation at Brand Finance. “This indicates that Viettel not only enjoys strong brand awareness but has also built deep connections with customers in its markets,” he added.

In terms of brand value, Viettel is estimated to be worth $7.9 billion, making it the largest telecommunications enterprise in Southeast Asia and one of the world’s top 20 telecom brands. It is also the only Vietnamese company included in the global Top 500 brands ranking compiled by Brand Finance.

Viettel reported a 4.5% year-on-year rise in pre-tax profit to VND56.8 trillion ($2.16 billion) in 2025, supported by strong growth in overseas markets. Revenue climbed 13.8% from a year earlier to VND220.4 trillion ($8.39 billion), marking Viettel’s second consecutive year of double-digit growth.

Viettel targets average annual growth of 12-14% through 2030, with overseas revenue from telecom and digital services expected to account for 35-40% of total sales.