Undersea Cable Damage Disrupts Global Internet Connectivity

Written By: Flipbz.org

A series of undersea cable disruptions in the Red Sea has triggered widespread internet outages, significantly impacting connectivity across Asia, the Middle East, and parts of Europe. These submarine cables, critical arteries of global internet infrastructure alongside satellite and terrestrial networks, serve as the backbone for international data transmission.

The outages have affected major internet service providers, with traffic rerouting causing noticeable slowdowns for users. Microsoft reported service challenges with its Azure cloud computing platform, a key rival to Amazon Web Services and Google Cloud, which serves approximately 722 million users worldwide. Azure customers experienced “increased latency” for data traffic between Asia, the Middle East, and Europe, with Microsoft confirming “degraded service” for cross-regional connectivity due to the severed cables. General network traffic bypassing the affected region remained unaffected, the company noted.

Internet monitoring group NetBlocks identified the damaged cables as the South East Asia–Middle East–Western Europe 4 (SMW4) and IMEWE systems, both vital for global data flow, with failures reported near Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. Countries such as India and Pakistan have been notably impacted. In the United Arab Emirates, users on state-owned networks like Du and Etisalat reported sluggish internet speeds, though no official statement has been issued by the government.

While the precise cause of the cable cuts remains under investigation, speculation has swirled around potential links to ongoing attacks by Yemen’s Houthi rebels on Red Sea shipping routes. The Houthis have previously denied targeting undersea cables, but concerns persist about deliberate sabotage. Cable damage can also result from natural causes, such as ship anchors, with repairs often taking weeks as crews must pinpoint and access the affected sections.

The incident highlights the fragility of global internet infrastructure, a concern echoed in a recent study published in *Nature Electronics*. Dr. Asaf Tzachor, Dean of Reichman University’s School of Sustainability, warned that submarine cables, which carry over 95% of international data, are increasingly vulnerable to both natural disasters and intentional attacks. Describing the global reliance on these cables as a “progress trap,” Tzachor emphasized that while they enable a hyper-connected world, they also represent a critical weak point for global communication, commerce, and security.

As investigations continue, the disruptions serve as a stark reminder of the need for robust safeguards to protect the world’s digital lifelines.