Challenge: Subsea Cable Consulting Amid Vietnam’s Telecom Transformation
Vietnam’s telecommunications infrastructure is undergoing rapid transformation, driven by government initiatives to liberalize the market and support the country’s burgeoning technology sector, announcing a plan to permit building of up to ten new subsea cables over the next five years.
Stavian Corporation, a leading Vietnamese multinational with US$2.5 billion in global revenue in 2024, identified a strategic opportunity to enter the high-tech infrastructure space by developing a hyperscale data center campus near Ho Chi Minh City, in partnership with Midas Capital.
However, Stavian faced the complex challenge of building Vietnam’s first open-access subsea cable to connect with Singapore, aiming to attract major market players while circumventing entrenched telecom operator interests. This required a novel approach to ensure market relevance and long-term business viability in the evolving digital infrastructure landscape.
Stavian Corporation aimed to develop Vietnam’s first open-access subsea cable linking to Singapore to support its hyperscale data center project, facing the challenge of overcoming incumbent telecom operator interests while ensuring market relevance and sustainable growth.
Approach: Telecom Consulting for Open-Access Cable
APTelecom adopted a flexible, step-wise methodology tailored to Vietnam’s dynamic telecom landscape. Prioritizing agility and strategic positioning over traditional models, their telecom consulting advisory covered both onshore and submarine cable needs, ensuring regulatory compliance and technical feasibility for swift progress.
Guided by open-access principles and collaboration, APTelecom leveraged its expertise in subsea cable consulting and market intelligence to identify partners and facilitate confidential negotiations. This ensured the solution appealed to major players, minimized incumbent challenges, and positioned Stavian for industry leadership in hyperscale data centre enablement and the ability to deliver open access to its proposed campus.
Execution: Fiber Network and Data Center Consulting
APTelecom initiated the project by leveraging its market intelligence to identify OMS, a regional cable operator seeking expansion into Vietnam. Working confidentially, APTelecom facilitated strategic introductions between Stavian and OMS, enabling the formation of a joint venture that combined Stavian’s investment strength with OMS’s operational expertise in submarine cable systems. Throughout the process, APTelecom advised on critical onshore requirements – including permits, licenses, site selection, and backhaul infrastructure – while guiding submarine cable routing decisions. This collaborative approach ensured rapid progress and flexibility, positioning the MViSTA project for successful presale and ongoing detailed design phases, and demonstrating APTelecom’s strength in fiber network consulting and data center consulting.
Outcome: Emerging Markets Growth via Infrastructure Consulting
The MViSTA project established a strong business case for a new regional subsea cable system, supported by market sizing and a flexible technical design. The joint venture between Stavian and OMS leveraged Stavian’s $2.5B investment capacity and OMS’s expertise, positioning the project to tap into Vietnam’s liberalizing telecom market of 100 million people. Currently in the presale phase, with design work underway, the project is advancing toward procurement and construction. This collaboration reduces market entry risks, accelerates timelines, and enables Stavian to lead hyperscale data center development in Southeast Asia, while setting a new benchmark for telecom infrastructure development and digital transformation consulting in the region.
The MViSTA project advanced toward construction with strong market backing and a flexible design, positioning Stavian and partners to lead hyperscale data center development and telecom infrastructure growth in Vietnam’s evolving digital market.