Major Disruption: Three of Vietnam’s Undersea Internet Cables Out of Service

Recently, Vietnam has faced significant disruptions in its international internet connectivity due to outages in three out of its five active undersea internet cables. This development, reported by state media and confirmed by the Vietnam News Agency, marks the second major instance of such issues in just over a year, highlighting vulnerabilities in the country's internet infrastructure.

Vietnam relies heavily on these undersea cables to connect to the global internet, with the affected cables linking the country to key regions such as the United States, Europe, and other parts of Asia. These cables collectively provide Vietnam with a substantial bandwidth capacity, estimated at nearly 62 Tbps, crucial for supporting various online services, international communications, and economic activities.

The exact nature and extent of the outages have not been fully disclosed, leaving uncertainty about whether the cables are completely offline or partially operational. Viettel and VNPT, two major Vietnamese internet service providers who have invested in these cables, have not provided immediate comments on the situation.

The impact of these cable disruptions has been keenly felt by internet users across Vietnam, particularly in accessing services hosted on servers located abroad. This includes difficulties in browsing international websites, using cloud-based applications, and engaging in online activities that require stable and high-speed internet connections.

Repair timelines for the affected cables have not been specified yet, indicating a potential prolonged period of disrupted internet services until the issues are resolved. The recurrence of undersea cable problems in Vietnam is not uncommon, with a similar widespread disruption occurring just last year, where all five undersea cables were affected for several weeks, causing widespread internet slowdowns and disruptions nationwide.

These incidents underscore the critical importance of robust and resilient internet infrastructure, especially for a country like Vietnam that increasingly depends on digital connectivity for economic growth, education, healthcare, and everyday communications. The disruptions also highlight the vulnerabilities inherent in relying on undersea cables, which are susceptible to damage from various factors including natural disasters, ship anchors, and equipment malfunctions.

Moving forward, stakeholders in Vietnam's telecommunications sector, including government authorities, internet service providers, and cable operators, will likely focus on expedient repairs to restore full connectivity. Additionally, there may be increased efforts to diversify and strengthen Vietnam's internet infrastructure to mitigate the impact of future disruptions and ensure more reliable internet access for its population.

In conclusion, the recent outages of three major undersea internet cables in Vietnam have significantly disrupted the country's international internet connectivity, affecting users' ability to access global online services. The ongoing challenges highlight the importance of robust infrastructure management and preparedness in safeguarding against such disruptions in the future.