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Undersea internet cables cut in the Red Sea, disrupting global connectivity
Microsoft announced on Saturday that several undersea cables crucial for global internet and communications had been severed in the Red Sea, causing disruptions in parts of Asia and the Middle East. The company stated via its Azure cloud platform that the Middle East “may experience increased latency due to submarine cable cuts in the Red Sea.” No details were given regarding the causes of the incident, but connections outside the region remain unaffected.
NetBlocks, a London-based organization monitoring internet access, confirmed that a “series of submarine cable outages” had reduced connectivity in countries such as India, Pakistan, and the United Arab Emirates. The group identified failures in the SMW4 and IMEWE systems near Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.
Undersea cables are the backbone of global communications, carrying around 99% of international data exchanges. According to the International Cable Protection Committee (ICPC), between 150 and 200 cable faults occur each year, often caused by ship anchors but sometimes linked to sabotage.
The incident comes amid heightened tensions in the region. Houthi rebels in Yemen, backed by Iran, have regularly attacked vessels in the Gulf of Aden and the Red Sea, claiming solidarity with Palestinians in Gaza. Although the Houthis denied targeting undersea cables in 2024, experts remain cautious about the risks posed to these vital infrastructures.
Globally, about 1.4 million kilometers of fiber optic cables cross the oceans, ensuring the flow of data essential to trade, finance, healthcare, education, and public services.