Industry News

On August 4, 2025, Vietnam Posts and Telecommunications Group (VNPT) launched the Vietnam-Singapore Terrestrial Backbone Network (VSTN). The 3,900-kilometer VSTN, which traverses Laos, Thailand, and Malaysia, connects directly to a data center in Singapore. This network ends Vietnam's complete reliance on submarine cables, enhances the resilience of its international connections (allowing for independent operation and maintenance, rapid repair of outages), and strengthens its digital sovereignty.

1. Project Overview & Technical Specifications

1. Core Facts

   • Name & Launch: The Vietnam-Singapore Terrestrial Network (VSTN) was officially activated on August 4, 2025, by Vietnam Posts and Telecommunications Group (VNPT). It is Vietnam’s first self-funded international terrestrial fiber optic cable.

   • Route Span: Total length 3,900 km, crossing 5 countries (Vietnam, Laos, Thailand, Malaysia, Singapore). Connects Đà Nẵng Tech Hub (Vietnam) with 6 regional data centers (e.g., Singapore’s Equinix, Thailand’s IDC Telehouse).

   • Technology: Uses DWDM transmission systems with single-wave capacity ≥300 Gbps, total design capacity 4 Tbps (expandable to 12 Tbps).

2. Background

   • Addressing Subsea Cable Vulnerabilities: Vietnam suffered >10 subsea cable cuts annually (2022–2025), causing frequent international outages. VSTN serves as a strategic backup, reducing repair time by 50% through autonomous operation.

   • Digital Sovereignty: Part of Vietnam’s push for infrastructure "autonomy", ending 90% reliance on foreign-owned subsea cables.

2. Strategic Value & Geopolitical Impact

1. Enhanced Digital Resilience

   • Redundancy: VSTN + existing subsea cables (e.g., AAG, SJC2) form a "subsea-terrestrial dual backup", enabling automatic failover during outages (e.g., 2024 outage slashed Vietnam’s speeds by 70%).

   • Operational Control: VNPT fully owns deployment/maintenance, shifting Vietnam from user to regional infrastructure leader.

2. Accelerating Regional Integration

   • ASEAN Digital Hub: First cross-ASEAN terrestrial corridor with Vietnam as the anchor, advancing the "Digital ASEAN Community" vision.

   • Economic Spillover: Provides landlocked nations (e.g., Cambodia, Laos) low-cost access. Cambodia plans to join VSTN via Vietnam.

3. Regional Influence & Future Plans

1. Elevating Vietnam’s Global Role

   • Technical Leadership: Vietnam’s first independently led international backbone, positioning it alongside Singapore/Thailand as digital infrastructure pioneers.

   • Investment Magnet: High reliability attracts data centers (e.g., Google’s planned AI hub in Đà Nẵng). Expected to boost Vietnam’s digital GDP growth by 2–3% by 2026.

2. National Strategy Alignment

   • Policy Synergy: VSTN implements Vietnam’s Digital Infrastructure Strategy (2025–2030), which targets ≥2 new self-owned subsea cables + 1 terrestrial cable by 2030, achieving 3× redundancy.

   • Next-G Network Foundation: Supports nationwide 5G rollout (2025) and 6G trials (2030), enabling AI/IoT industries.

4. Project Timeline & Challenges

• Decade of Prep: VNPT gained expertise via subsea cables (e.g., AAG, 2009) and satellites (Vinasat-1/2), totaling 36 Tbps capacity pre-VSTN.

• Cross-Border Hurdles: Required 18 months to align regulations across 5 nations (e.g., Laos’ routing rights, Thailand’s land permits).

Breakthrough Impact: Before vs. After VSTN

Nguyễn Mạnh Hùng, Vietnam’s Minister of S&T:
“VSTN isn’t just infrastructure—it embodies Vietnam’s industrial spirit. We’re evolving from digital consumers to creators, setting a new benchmark for Southeast Asia.”