Internet connections have gradually improved thanks to data being diverted to land-based systems, but performance might still slow at peak hours.

The Ministry of Information and Communications (MIC) has realized a new opportunity to develop fiber optic cable routes, turning Vietnam into a hub connecting the region and easing reliance on Singapore and Hong Kong.

Internet service providers have restored 50% of international internet connectivity after the breakdown of four undersea internet cables, according to the Vietnam Telecommunications Authority.

Of the four undersea cable systems with problems, the Asia Pacific Gateway (APG) and Intra Asia (IA) are scheduled to be fixed in March and April.

The telecommunications enterprises in Vietnam have committed to ensuring smooth internet connection since the night of February 10.

Two among four broken undersea cables linked to Vietnam are scheduled to be fixed in March and April this year, reported the local media.

Deputy Minister of Information and Communications Nguyen Huy Dung emphasised the importance of a safe internet in the development process in Vietnam on the occasion of World Safer Internet Day 2023 (February 7).

The Vietnam Internet Association’s (VIA) Secretary General Vu The Binh said Vietnam needs at least two or three more submarine fiber cable routes in the next five years to serve mounting demand.

Vietnam will need at least two or three more submarine cables to ensure proper internet services for the country's development in the next five years, according to Vu The Binh, Secretary-General of the Vietnam Internet Association.

Vietnamese internet service providers have confirmed that four out of five submarine internet cables that connect the country to the world are experiencing issues, seriously affecting performance and reliability.

Three undersea fiber optic cable routes - APG, AAG and AAE-1 - connecting Vietnam to the world have continued to encounter errors. Local internet providers have come up with solutions to provide uninterrupted service.

The Asia Pacific Gateway (APG) was the latest – following Asia America Gateway (AAG) and AAE-1 (Asia-Africa-Euro 1) – to see disruptions after a problem on the S6 segment (near Hong Kong, China) was reported on Monday morning.

Former Deputy Prime Minister Nguyen Khanh said Vietnam could have opened the internet sooner but it needed to prepare well in technique, human resources, policies, and more importantly, ideology.

The decision to connect to the Internet 25 years ago was a brave act, showing a long-term vision, contributing to comprehensive changes in the country, experts said at the 25th anniversary of Vietnam's Internet and Internet Day 2022 on December 7.

The fault that occurred in mid-September for the Asia Pacific Gateway (APG), which links Vietnam with Hong Kong and Japan, was repaired on November 14.

The Ministry of Information and Communications (MIC) seeks to popularize broadband internet access and smartphone ownership to 100 percent of the population.

The Asia Pacific Gateway (APG) undersea cable, which connects eight countries and territories in the region, is facing problems with its S1.7 section, about 910km from Southeast Asia.

Undersea fiber-optic cables in Vietnam have continuously met trouble, including the broken AAG on October 22, 2021 and the broken APG on December 5, 2021.

The problems occurring on two international submarine fiber optic cable lines APG and IA have been fixed. Currently, only the AAG cable remains interrupted.

In addition to the two international submarine cables, AAG and APG, which have had problems since last year, the Intra-Asia (IA) submarine cable broke down on February 18, slowing down Internet speed in Vietnam.