Internet connectivity across parts of Asia and the Middle East has been significantly degraded due to a series of undersea cable cuts in the Red Sea. Internet monitoring group NetBlocks confirmed outages affecting key systems, including the SMW4 and IMEWE cables near Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, impacting countries such as India, Pakistan, and the UAE.
In the United Arab Emirates, telecom operators Etisalat and Du experienced slow speeds and intermittent access, though official statements from authorities remain pending.
NetBlocks described degraded connectivity across multiple countries in both regions.
Microsoft issued a status update on its Azure cloud services, warning that users may face increased latency for traffic routing through the Middle East. Microsoft has rerouted traffic through alternate paths to maintain connectivity, noting that routes not passing through the Middle East remain unaffected.
As of this reporting, the cause of the damage remains unknown. However, analysts have raised concerns about the possible role of Houthi rebels, given their past operations in the Red Sea. Analysts have suggested the possibility of natural causes or accidental damage, such as from ship anchors, but they have not confirmed it. Notably, Yemen’s Houthi rebels have denied responsibility, though suspicions persist.
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The incident highlights the fragility of global internet infrastructure and the reliance on subsea cables for cross-continental data flow. Restoration is expected to take time, as repairing submarine cables requires specialist ships and coordination to locate and fix damaged sections—often from offshore.
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