Vietnam is becoming one of the fastest-growing optical cable manufacturing markets in Southeast Asia, driven by FTTH deployment, 5G network expansion, and increasing investment in digital infrastructure. With the accelerated rollout of 5G networks, the full deployment of fiber-to-the-home (FTTH), and the deepening of the digital infrastructure strategy, the demand for optical cables in Vietnam has maintained double-digit annual growth over the past five years. However, establishing or expanding an optical cable production line locally still faces practical challenges such as factory planning, equipment selection, and process standards. This guide provides market insights and equipment selection recommendations for companies planning to build or expand an optical cable production line in Vietnam.
I. Vietnam Optical Cable Market Overview
1. Policy Support Driving Optical Cable Demand in Vietnam
In October 2024, Deputy Prime Minister Nguyen Hoa Binh signed Decision No. 1132/QĐ-TTg approving the Digital Infrastructure Strategy (2025-2030). The strategy clearly states that by 2025, fiber optics must reach households, and 5G mobile services must fully cover all provinces and cities, high-tech parks, IT parks, R&D innovation centers, and industrial zones.
By 2030, the target is further upgraded to all users accessing optical cables at speeds above 1 Gb/s, 5G networks covering 99% of the population, and the deployment of at least one internationally terrestrial optical cable independently developed by Vietnam. At the same time, the Vietnamese government issued a Government Decree Encouraging Private Enterprises to Participate in Telecom Infrastructure Construction, explicitly encouraging private companies to invest in data centers, cloud computing, high-quality broadband, and other digital infrastructure. These policies provide a clear demand growth expectation for the optical cable manufacturing industry.
2. Major Telecom Operators Driving Fiber Network Expansion
Vietnam’s telecom market is dominated by three major operators: Viettel (Vietnam Military Telecom), VNPT (Vietnam Posts and Telecommunications Group), and FPT Telecom. Among them, Viettel officially launched the Asia Direct Cable (ADC) system in April 2025, with a total investment of US$290 million, a total length of 9,800 km, and a design capacity of 50 Tbps – currently the largest-capacity submarine cable route in Vietnam. Viettel also plans to deploy 30,000 to 50,000 5G base stations nationwide by 2030. The construction of these infrastructures will directly drive local procurement demand for supporting optical cable products.
3. Optical Cable Manufacturers Expanding Production in Vietnam
Vietnam has become an important destination for Chinese optical communication companies expanding overseas. As of 2024, Chinese enterprises that have established optical cable and optical device production bases in Vietnam include:
Dongyongsheng Optical Communication – Has a factory in Hanoi, with a 20,000 m² production base and more than 50 production lines.
T&S Communications – Established a subsidiary in Bac Ninh Province in 2024, mainly producing ceramic ferrules, fiber patch cords, and optoelectronic devices.
AVIC Jonhon Optronic Technology – Produces fiber optic connectors and cable assemblies through its Vietnam Ruilian Technology.
Woer Heat-Shrinkable Material – Announced in 2025 a planned investment of RMB 1 billion to expand communication cable capacity in Bac Ninh Province.
Wanma Cable – Produces and sells communication cables through its subsidiary Wanma Cable (Vietnam).
The intensive layout of Chinese enterprises provides a market foundation for equipment suppliers to establish cooperation with local manufacturers.
4. Trade Advantages: Tariff Policies Reduce Equipment Import Costs
Under the China-ASEAN Free Trade Agreement (ACFTA), more than 90% of goods enjoy zero tariff treatment. Optical cable equipment and related spare parts exported from China to Vietnam can apply the 0% preferential import tariff rate (subject to compliance with ACFTA rules of origin), with only 10% value-added tax payable. In addition, goods with a CIF value not exceeding VND 1 million (about RMB 290) are exempt from tariffs. This policy framework gives Chinese-made equipment significant price competitiveness in the Vietnamese market. Vietnamese customs data show that in 2025, Vietnam’s imports of optical fiber and cable products from China exceeded US$45 million.
II. Demand Trends for Optical Cable Equipment in Vietnam
1. Local Capacity Expansion Drives Demand for Stranding and Sheathing Equipment
As Chinese-funded optical cable factories in Vietnam continue to expand capacity, and local Vietnamese cable manufacturers (such as Sacom, Viettel, etc.) upgrade their production lines, the demand for core equipment such as SZ stranding and cabling machines, sheathing production lines, and butterfly drop cable production lines is growing accordingly. Equipment buyers focus on: complete line delivery lead time, equipment compatibility with multiple product specifications, and the responsiveness of technical support for overseas installation and commissioning.
2. Growing Demand for Whole-Plant Planning Services
When setting up factories in Vietnam, Chinese enterprises generally face challenges such as insufficient local technical talent, lack of experience in factory layout, and long equipment integration cycles. Equipment suppliers that can provide one-stop whole-plant planning services – including factory layout design, equipment configuration, installation and commissioning, and personnel training – are more favored in the Vietnamese market.
III. Core Parameter Reference for SZ Stranding and Cabling Machines
For optical cable manufacturers, the SZ stranding and cabling machine is the core equipment of the production line, and its performance directly determines cabling quality and production efficiency. The following are industry-standard technical levels that can be used as a benchmark for equipment selection.
| Parameter Item | Technical Indicator |
| Strength member pay-off reel size | PN800 – PN1800 mm |
| Tension wheel diameter | Φ800 mm (double wheel) |
| Number of loose tube pay-off reels | 12 reels (or as customer required) |
| Maximum finished cable outer diameter | Φ28 mm |
| Pitch control | PLC stepless setting, fully differential structure |
| Stranding angle | ±18° adjustable, with zero alignment and over-twist alarm protection |
For the sheathing process, the following parameters are also core quality assurance indicators:
| Parameter Item | Technical Guarantee Indicator |
| Concentricity control | ≥98% (closed-loop online control with laser diameter gauge) |
| Sheath thickness tolerance | ≤0.05 mm (nominal 1.8 mm) |
| Temperature cycling performance | Attenuation ≤0.03 dB/km after 10 cycles from -40°C to 70°C |
| Control system | Industrial PC + PLC, major electrical components imported |
| Screw and gearbox | High-frequency quenching + precision grinding, high-wear-resistant design |
| Applicable materials | Compatible with PVC, LSZH, polyethylene, and other materials |
IV. Equipment Selection Recommendations for the Vietnamese Market
1. Prioritize Suppliers with Whole-Plant Delivery Capability
Local Vietnamese technicians have relatively limited experience in optical cable equipment commissioning. Choosing a supplier that can provide whole-plant layout planning, equipment installation, operation training, and after-sales technical support helps significantly shorten the production line construction period.
2. Verify Equipment Adaptability for Voltage and Control System
Vietnam’s power system uses 220 V/380 V, 50 Hz, which is the same as China’s. Therefore, the electrical system of Chinese equipment can be used directly without modification – a major convenience for exporting equipment to Vietnam.
3. Pay Attention to Future Expansion and Changeover Capability
Optical cable orders in Vietnam are characterized by small batches and multiple varieties. Whether the equipment supports rapid changeover, recipe storage, and one-click recall directly affects the overall efficiency of the production line.
4. Request Factory Acceptance Test Reports and Overseas Case Lists
Before purchasing equipment, it is recommended to ask the supplier to provide factory test data for key equipment (tension fluctuation records, measured pitch deviation, concentricity inspection reports, etc.), as well as information on their past delivery cases and customer feedback in the Vietnamese market.
V. About Guangdong Hongkai
Guangdong Hongkai Optical Cable Equipment Technology Co., Ltd. was established in 2015 (predecessor founded in 2005) and is located in Dongguan City, Guangdong Province. Hongkai is a professional optical cable equipment manufacturer in China with more than 20 years of industry experience. Its core products include SZ stranding and cabling machines, outdoor optical cable sheathing production lines, butterfly drop cable production lines, and supporting auxiliary equipment. The equipment control system is developed on Siemens/Mitsubishi PLC platforms, supporting modular networking and MES data interfaces.
The company provides full-process whole-plant planning services, including factory layout planning, equipment selection and matching, installation and commissioning, operator training, and after-sales maintenance. Its equipment has been delivered in multiple batches to the Middle East, Southeast Asia, South Asia, Africa, and other regions, with service experience in overseas installation guidance and remote technical support. If you plan to build a new optical cable production line or expand an existing one in Vietnam, please contact us for equipment technical parameters and factory acceptance test standards.
Looking for an optical cable production line in Vietnam?
Hongkai provides:
• SZ stranding and cabling machines
• Optical cable sheathing production lines
• FTTH cable production lines
• Turnkey optical cable factory solutions
Contact our engineering team for equipment recommendations, factory layout planning, and technical consultation.
