Internet users in Viet Nam are set to experience sluggish connection for a fortnight as the submarine cable system crucial to the country’s Internet connectivity is being maintained following a recent rupture.

A diver is seen fixing a submarine cable cut in this file photo. Tuoi Tre

Repairs to the Asia America Gateway (AAG) cable system is slated to finish on August 21, a local Internet service provider said on Saturday, citing the AAG operator.

This means that users in Viet Nam may experience slow or disrupted connection to websites or online services hosted outside the country for 2 weeks since this weekend.

Previously, the AAG broke on Tuesday evening, allegedly caused by storm Nida, which entered the East Vietnam Sea before making landfall in southern China, according to sources with knowledge of the matter.

The AAG is a 20,000-kilometer-long submarine communications cable system, connecting Southeast Asia with the U.S. mainland across the Pacific Ocean via Guam and Hawaii.

Viet Nam is connected to four international submarine Internet cable systems, namely the AAG, SMW3 (Southeast Asia - Middle East - Western Europe 3), TVH (Thailand-Viet Nam-Hong Kong), and IA (Intra Asia).

But Internet traffic in Viet Nam is greatly affected whenever the AAG cable ruptures, as the system has the largest capacity out of the four.

Since operating in November 2009, the AAG has encountered repeated problems, with the latest in late June 2016.

Internet service providers said they are too used to the AAG issues and all have back-up plans to ensure quality connection for users.

But complaints about slow access are continuing to flood social media in Viet Nam.

This is the third time the AAG has encountered problems since this year.

(Source: Tuoitrenews)