Vietnam's Digital Leap: New Cables and 5G by Next Year

Vietnam plans to launch two undersea internet cables and expand 5G services nationwide by the end of next year. This initiative, signed by Deputy Prime Minister Nguyen Hoa Binh, aims to enhance digital infrastructure amid aging existing cables. By 2030, fibre-optic services and next-gen AI centers are expected.

In a significant boost to its digital infrastructure, Vietnam's government announced plans to introduce two undersea internet cables and roll out 5G services nationwide by next year. This strategic move was formalized by Deputy Prime Minister Nguyen Hoa Binh.

Vietnam, known as a leading manufacturing hub in the region, has faced issues with its aging internet infrastructure, which includes outages in its existing five major cables. Recent reports indicate that the United States has cautioned Vietnam against employing Chinese contractors for the new undersea cable projects due to security issues.

Looking to the future, by 2030, Vietnam aims to provide its entire population with access to high-speed fibre-optic internet at 1Gbps, with the potential for 6G testing and the creation of AI and hyperscale data centers. Currently, Vietnamese mobile carriers have been trialing 5G, though it has not been widely commercialized yet.

(With inputs from agencies.)