Vietnam reduces reliance on subsea cables with first terrestrial link to Singapore

　　The Vietnam Posts and Telecommunications Group (VNPT) has recently unveiled the first-ever fiber optic cable system that connects Vietnam and Singapore via a land route, with connections to Laos, Thailand and Malaysia.

　　The 3,900-kilometer Vietnam-Singapore Terrestrial Network (VSTN) uses Dense Wavelength Division Multiplexing (DWDM) transmission technology and can carry a minimum of 300 Gbit/s per wavelength. The network is designed to have a total capacity of 4 Tbit/s, which can be expanded to 12 Tbit/s to accommodate future bandwidth demands.

　　alternative to undersea cables

　　Vietnam has primarily routed Internet traffic through five submarine cables, each of which experiences an average of over ten disruptions per year. There were times when 73% of the country's bandwidth was lost when four subsea cables broke down simultaneously.

　　According to industry observers, the new VSTN cable system serves as a backup for these cables, enhancing the resilience, proactivity and security of Vietnam's telecommunications infrastructure.

　　Because VNPT owns and controls the entire new terrestrial cable system, the telecom operator can quickly repair any segment of the system without relying on foreign partners.

　　"Land cables can be repaired more quickly than sea lines," stated a Vietnam Briefing analysis. The analysis was published by Dezan Shira and Associates on Thursday.

　　"Sea lines require specialized repair vessels and favorable sea conditions," the article added, noting that repairing subsea cables is time-consuming, typically taking about two to 12 months.

　　With the launch of the VSTN cable, VNPT reportedly said it is gradually achieving its goal of establishing a multimodal transmission infrastructure ecosystem via land, sea and space.

　　VNPT currently operates four major international undersea cable systems: AAG, APG, AAE-1 and the recently completed SJC-2. Together, these systems span over 65,000 kilometers. Meanwhile, the Vietnamese operator also owns and operates two telecommunications satellites: Vinasat-1 and Vinasat-2.

　　Strengthening Vietnam's data center market

　　The VSTN establishes direct connections between Vietnam and regional data hubs in Southeast Asia. Specifically, it connects VNPT's technical center in Da Nang with IDC Telehouse in Thailand, MY01 Cyberjaya and Equinix JH01 in Johor Bahru, Malaysia, as well as Equinix and Global Switch in Singapore.

　　In their latest analysis, Dezan Shira & Associates noted that the VSTN is expected to encourage further private-sector investment in data centers and fintech ventures in Vietnam.

　　"Singapore is a central internet exchange point for Southeast Asia, as it hosts several data centers and acts as a gateway to global digital traffic. The VSTN strengthens Vietnam’s access to this network and expands opportunities for cross-border trade in digital services," the article said.

　　Additionally, the article noted that the VSTN will help Vietnam achieve its goal of increasing the contribution of its digital economy to 20% of GDP by 2025.

　　"Achieving this level of growth requires infrastructure that can handle rising internet traffic and provide businesses with stable cross-border connectivity. The VSTN advances this goal by creating a direct land-based route to major ASEAN hubs. This could act as a force multiplier for industries in cloud services, fintech, and e-commerce, where uninterrupted access is essential," the article said.