Vietnam's state owned EVN Telecom has joined a 200-mln-usd project by VSNL International to lay a pan-Asian submarine optic cable, the country's state-controlled media reported.

The 6,800 kilometre cable network will link Singapore, Vietnam, the Philippines, China, Japan, Guam, Taiwan and Hong Kong, the Tin Tuc or News daily reported.

Vietnam's landing station would be in the southern city of Vung Tau, near the commercial hub of Ho Chi Minh City, and the cable is expected to be operational in the first quarter of next year, the report said.

VSNL is the telecommunications arm of India's Tata Group and owns and operates international mobile, voice and data networks.

EVN Telecom, a subsidiary of Electricity of Vietnam, provides CDMA mobile phone, landline phone and internet services.

 Source: forbes.com