TMTPOST -- Keppel, a Singaporean asset manager, and Sovico Group, a Vietnamese conglomerate, are in talks to develop new undersea fiber-optic cables aimed at enhancing the region’s data centre infrastructure, according to sources familiar with the discussions. As Southeast Asia serves as a critical hub for cables connecting Asia to Europe, countries in the region are looking to expand their networks to meet the rising demand for AI services and data centres. Vietnam alone plans to add 10 new submarine cables by 2030. The development of undersea cables has become a focal point in the ongoing Sino-American tech rivalry, with both countries competing for contracts, particularly in Asia, to build and maintain this crucial infrastructure that transmits most internet data, including sensitive information. One proposed plan involves laying a cable to directly connect Vietnam with Singapore, sources involved in the discussions confirmed.