Report VNPT Boosts Vietnam's Internet with New Land Cable System

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Photo courtesy of VN Express

 

In a significant leap for Vietnam’s digital infrastructure, VNPT Group has unveiled the VSTN, a cutting-edge land-based international fibre optic cable system. Designed to reduce the country’s reliance on vulnerable undersea connections, the 3,900-kilometre cable stretches from Da Nang, through Laos and Thailand, to Malaysia and Singapore. This marks a first for Vietnam as the entire system is owned and operated by a home-grown company.

 

The VSTN cable, now operational, employs dense wavelength division multiplexing technology. Each wavelength supports a minimum of 300 Gigabits per second, with a design capacity of 4 Terabits per second (Tbps). This can be expanded to 12 Tbps or more, making it ideal for handling the data-heavy demands of cloud computing, artificial intelligence, digital finance, and online conferencing.

 

VNPT CEO Huynh Quang Liem highlighted the frequent disruptions in undersea cables, reporting an average of 10 failures annually since 2022. "At one point, four out of five international undersea cables serving Vietnam were damaged, slashing our capacity by 75%," he noted. With repair times spanning from two to six months, and sometimes up to a year, the land-based system promises to reduce Internet outages and gives VNPT full operational control.

 

The new cable is expected to diversify Vietnam’s global connectivity, offering stronger backup for telecom infrastructure. By enhancing resilience during natural disasters and reducing dependency on traditional systems, the VSTN acts as a vital "safety valve" for Vietnam’s Internet backbone.

 

Minister of Science and Technology, Nguyen Manh Hung, lauded the project as a step towards a unified digital ASEAN. He underscored the importance of stable and sustainable telecom infrastructure, which forms the cornerstone of the digital economy. "Vietnam must expand its fibre optic network with more undersea and overland cables, ensuring quick recovery in case of disruptions," he advised.

 

He further praised VNPT for pioneering this fully Vietnamese-owned system, expressing a desire for more domestic telcos to follow suit. This, he believes, will lead Vietnam to an era of ultra-broadband, high-capacity, and secure digital infrastructure, aligning with modern demands for inclusivity, intelligence, and sustainability.

 

The VSTN's introduction is a pivotal development in Vietnam’s journey towards technological self-sufficiency. It provides a robust foundation to bolster the country's position in the global digital landscape while enhancing connections across Southeast Asia.

 

By owning this strategic piece of infrastructure, Vietnam takes a bold step in ensuring that its technological future is both secure and sustainable, positioning itself as a leader in regional digital advancement.

 

  Adapted by ASEAN Now from VN Express 2025-08-06