Vietnam’s telecom carriers use five international submarine fiber optic cables, namely Asia America Gateway (AAG), Asia Pacific Gateway (APG), SMW3 (SEA - ME - WE3), Intra Asia (IA) and Asia - Africa - Euro 1 (AAE-1).

At a meeting with the local press on February 10 discussing issues related to the incidents of four out of five routes, Nguyen Hong Thang, director of the Authority of Telecommunications (AoT), said MIC believes that opportunities always exist in difficulties. 

When the cable routes that connect with Hong Kong (China) and China, the two current hubs, face problems, Vietnam can see its chance to become a hub for international connections

Thang said that in the long term, there needs to be more submarine cable routes.

“The development of more cable routes not only aims to better satisfy internet users’ demand, but also ensure the readiness and ease heavy reliance on one of the two existing routes,” he said.

MIC has asked telecom carriers to consider developing undersea cable routes and open new landfall stations such as in Quy Nhon, in addition to existing stations in Da Nang and Ba Ria – Vung Tau.

Recently, VNPT and Viettel, the two largest mobile network operators, have joined an alliance to build new cable routes – SJC2 and ADC. 

The two routes are scheduled to officially open this year. The number of submarine cable routes Vietnam uses would be seven.

Vu The Binh, chair and secretary of the Vietnam Internet Association (VIA), said both SJC2 and ADC use the latest technologies, so the capacity and cost will be better than the current routes. 

Once the new routes become operational, Vietnam’s reliance on the current routes will decrease.

The two new cable routes land in Quy Nhon and Binh Dinh, which ensures safety for Vietnam’s international connections.

According to a VIA (Vietnam Internet Association) representative, the two new routes connect with Hong Kong and Singapore. This affirms the important role of the two major hubs, but also shows that Vietnam can  become a transit and connection hub of the region, if infrastructure connecting with countries in the west and domestic infrastructure are developed.

Thang said international partners preside over the current five cable routes and the two new ones expected to be put into operation this year, while Vietnam is an investor and user.

MIC has asked Vietnam’s companies to build two international cable routes. The routes will be built and owned by the alliance of Vietnamese companies.

“MIC will persuade domestic telecom carriers to join forces to build the routes. The alliance will be led by large and powerful companies and contributed by others,” Thang said.

The total number of cable routes Vietnam would use by 2025 may reach 10, double the current number.

A representative of AoT warned that this will be challenging. MIC has set up a steering committee to plan the development of submarine fiber optic cable routes.

“The steering committees on fixing incidents and building a national plan on undersea cable routes will discuss construction solutions, including capacity and time for investment, to obtain the best investment efficiency,” Thang said.

“At the same time, Vietnam needs to develop domestic data centers and cloud systems to be able to become a hub in the region,” he added.

Trong Dat