NEC, Alcatel Vie for MViSTA Cable Contract in Southeast Asia
The $400 million MViSTA undersea cable, linking Thailand, Malaysia, Vietnam and Singapore, expects to enter service in late 2028.
MViSTA Cable Supplier Decision Imminent
Developers of the MViSTA undersea data cable are close to selecting either Japan's NEC or France's Alcatel Submarine Networks as the primary supplier. Mark Procter, deputy head of Stavian High Tech Infrastructure, confirmed the decision is expected this month. This 2,500-kilometre, 16-fibre-pair cable is estimated to cost $400 million.
It connects Thailand, Malaysia, Vietnam, and Singapore. The project, backed by the US, is scheduled to begin service in late 2028.
Strategic Exclusions Shape Project Scope
The MViSTA cable project excluded Chinese suppliers from bidding for the contract, according to Mr Procter. Its route was also designed to avoid maritime areas claimed by Beijing. Stavian Group, a Vietnamese conglomerate and one of the project's developers, plans a new "hyperscale campus" in southern Vietnam.
This campus will host data centres and artificial intelligence (AI) infrastructure. Mr Procter stated that no Chinese technology would be deployed in this cluster.
Vietnam's Digital Infrastructure Expansion
The project supports Vietnam's goal to expand its submarine cable connections to 15 by 2030, up from six currently. Vietnam frequently experiences cable outages, making new infrastructure critical. The government expedited approval procedures for the MViSTA project, Mr Procter noted.
The US Trade and Development Agency (USTDA) is funding a feasibility study for the linked data centre campus. This study, due March 2027, will assess the deployment of "trusted technology" and the impact of US semiconductor export restrictions on the planned 1-gigawatt facility.
The MViSTA cable and its associated data centre campus could alleviate infrastructure limitations that have deterred major US technology firms from investing in Vietnam. However, Mr Procter cautioned that future investments also depend on Vietnam's regulatory framework. Restrictions on cross-border data flows remain a significant barrier for the industry.
Successful deployment could foster increased foreign direct investment (FDI) into Vietnam's digital economy, particularly from companies seeking diversified supply chains and secure data infrastructure in Southeast Asia.
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