The international AAE-1 submarine cable, which plays a pivotal role in connecting Vietnam to the global Internet, has recently completed repairs to its S1H5 branch on December 31, 2024. Following this, another cable, the IA cable, faced significant issues beginning December 26, 2024, leading to substantial connectivity losses for Vietnamese users trying to access services based out of Hong Kong and Singapore.
According to local reports, the situation initiated when the IA cable experienced total failure, effectively cutting off all traffic to these key locations. This failure compounded the existing challenges faced by Internet Service Providers (ISPs) across Vietnam, as two other submarine cables, the APG and IA, encountered problems concurrently, significantly hindering overall Internet service quality.
The successful restoration of AAE-1's S1H5 branch involved reconfiguring the Internet connection on December 31, allowing services to flow again toward Hong Kong and Singapore. Despite this progress, ISPs have continually communicated to users about the impact of the existing outages from the other cable systems. Specifically, the APG cable has reported failures on its branches S1.9, connecting to Malaysia, and S8, linking to Thailand. According to estimates, the IA cable's issues have left users with no capacity at all for accessing these key markets. Currently, there is no timeline announced for resolving these issues.
Le Ba Tan, head of the technical department at Viettel, highlighted the importance of stable infrastructure for connecting to global networks. He emphasized during the “Commercializing 5G, Applications for Smart Industry” seminar held on December 26, 2024, the vulnerabilities are evident; "This is a weakness of Vietnam recently. We have seen the fragility of some submarine cables. The recovery times for these failures have also lengthened compared to before,” he stated.
The financial ramifications of these outages extend beyond mere connectivity; they threaten the operational efficiency for businesses relying on stable Internet access for communication and operations. With such interruptions becoming more frequent, the response time for repairs and upgrades to these key infrastructures is of growing concern.
Recognizing the weaknesses within its international submarine cable network, Vietnam’s Ministry of Information and Communications (MIC) has taken steps to correct this trend. Starting last year, the MIC has outlined strategies aimed at developing at least ten additional submarine cable systems by 2030, which would expand the total number of international connections from five to at least fifteen.
Notably, this infrastructure initiative was approved by Prime Minister XINH PHU back in October 2024. The plan emphasizes enhancing the security and resilience of telecommunications infrastructures, ensuring unbroken connectivity, and increasing international bandwidth capacity.
For the immediate future, Vietnam aims to activate at least two new international submarine cables by 2025, supplementing another eight before the decade concludes. This ambitious projection reflects the government’s commitment to address the sustainability and security of Vietnam’s telecommunication framework.
Currently, ISPs within Vietnam utilize five international submarine cables, which include AAG, AAE-1, APG, IA, and SMW3. Collectively, these cables deliver over 20 terabits per second (Tbps) of Internet usage, with available capacity peaking at 34 Tbps. All five cables run through the East Sea, connecting at six landing stations located throughout Ninh Thuan, Vung Tau, and Quy Nhon.
Interestingly, statistical data suggests these submarine cable systems encounter approximately fifteen incidents annually. Historically, before 2022, the average repair time for these submarine cables ranged between one to two months for each incident. Recent conditions indicate this timeframe may extend longer still, intensifying concerns over the resiliency of the infrastructure.
Also addressing these interconnections, Le Ba Tan noted, "Under the decisive direction of the MIC, Viettel has led the development of submarine cables linking to Singapore, intending to solidify connections to international hubs to support Internet connectivity from Vietnam to the global network." This proactive strategy indicates the company’s commitment alongside governmental initiatives to stabilize Internet services.
Complementing these efforts, the newly completed ADC cable, participated by Viettel, was inaugurated mid-December 2024. This latest submarine cable, stretching nearly 10,000 kilometers with initial capacity exceeding 160 Tbps, reinforces Vietnam's international connectivity. The ADC connects to seven cable landing stations across several neighboring countries, providing substantial new capacity to meet the growing demands of businesses and consumers alike.
Given the current issues affecting the IA and other submarine cables, addressing these challenges is fundamental for ensuring reliable access to international Internet resources.