Vietnamese users will experience slow Internet connections until November 4 as an international cable is under repair, leading telecommunication firm FPT has said.

Vietnamese users will experience slow Internet connections until November 4 as an international cable is under repair, leading telecommunication firm FPT has said.

The company said the Asia America Gateway that crosses under the Pacific needs repairs, which began October 25 and will take ten days, during which time the circulation by Vietnamese providers on the cable will be hindered, news website VietNamNet reported.

An error had occurred at the cable section between Hong Kong and Vietnamese southern beach town Vung Tau on August 13, 6.2 kilometers from Vung Tau, and it was repaired on September 8 but only for temporary use.

Vietnamese providers FPT, Vietnam Post and Telecommunications Group (VNPT), and the Hanoi-based new provider Netnam said they will switch to some back-up lines but problems will still occur at some points.

They said the Internet connection on local websites will not be affected.

Asia America Gateway was launched in April 2007 and connected to Vietnam in November 2009.

The US$560 million cable runs nearly 20,000 kilometers between Malaysia and the US, stopping by Singapore, Thailand, Brunei, Vietnam, the Philippines, Hong Kong, Guam and Hawaii.