Asi@Connect supports capacity building and network-enabled applications with high societal impact, particularly in the least developed countries in the region.

Speaking at the event, Deputy Head of Mission of the EU Delegation in Vietnam, Axelle Nicaise said "The EU has long recognized the potential of promoting people-to-people connectivity. Asi@Connect is an excellent example of regional integration, with the R&E communities of 23 Asia-Pacific countries inter-connected by powerful high-capacity, high quality Internet links. Asi@Connect is a vehicle for promoting a peaceful, secure, open and cooperative ICT environment between Asia and Europe, and benefit society as a whole".

Asi@Connect is the successor project to TEIN4, the most recent phase of the TEIN initiative. It currently supports 24 countries/economies by providing a regional high-capacity internet backbone for R&E collaboration within the Asia-Pacific region and, its interconnection with the pan-European GÉANT network, and with other parts of the world.

Asi@Connect is the continuation of a strong partnership between the European Commission’s Directorate-General for International Cooperation and Development and the Korea-based regional networking organisation TEIN*CC./.