"The terrestrial fiber-optic cable connecting Vietnam, Laos, Thailand, and Singapore will go into operation in August with an initial capacity of 2 Tbps, which could later be upgraded to a maximum of 12 Tbps," Deputy Minister of Science and Technology Pham Duc Long said at a mid-year review meeting on Monday.

Internet cables system.

Terrestrial cables offer greater stability than undersea ones, though their installation costs are higher, and are often used as backups. In 2023, when four out of five undersea cables experienced disruptions, terrestrial networks became the country’s main option for global connectivity.

Details about Vietnam’s terrestrial fiber-optic cable network are not fully known. Its undersea cables have a combined capacity of 54 Tbps while actual usage exceeded 24 Tbps as of March, according to the Ministry of Science and Technology.

In April telecom giant Viettel activated the new ADC undersea cable capable of 50 Tbps.

A report in June by the Authority of Telecommunications’ infrastructure development department said there are plans to deploy at least two more international terrestrial cables by 2030 since the goal is to ensure they account for at least 15% of the country’s total bandwidth.

Resolution 57 of the Politburo calls for building advanced digital infrastructure with ultra-high capacity and bandwidth. The telecom sector has a stated goal of having at least half the number of 5G base stations as 4G stations by 2025.

The licensing process and pilot implementation of low Earth orbit satellite telecommunications services could also begin by the end of this year. The Ministry of Science and Technology will assist firms with developing the country’s first domestic international undersea cable connecting directly with Singapore, with agreements targeted for early 2026.

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