Internet connectivity issues affected several countries in Asia and the Middle East on Sunday, following undersea cable damage in the Red Sea. Experts confirmed the disruptions, though the cause remains under investigation.
Microsoft reported increased latency in the Middle East due to the fiber cuts, specifying that traffic not routed through the region was unaffected. The company did not offer further details on the incident.
NetBlocks, an internet monitoring organization, observed degraded internet connectivity in several nations, including India and Pakistan. They attributed the issues to failures affecting the SMW4 and IMEWE cable systems near Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.
Several internet service providers (ISPs) in the affected region experienced disruptions. While ISPs typically have backup access points, the outages still resulted in slower internet speeds for users. The South East Asia–Middle East–Western Europe 4 (SEA-ME-WE 4) cable, operated by Tata Communications, and the India-Middle East-Western Europe (IMEWE) cable, managed by a consortium overseen by Alcatel-Lucent, were both affected. Neither company immediately commented.
Pakistan Telecommunications Co. Ltd. publicly acknowledged the cable cuts on Saturday. Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates did not immediately release official statements on the disruptions. However, users on Du and Etisalat networks in the UAE reported slower internet speeds.
While undersea cables can be severed accidentally, such as by ships’ anchors, the timing of the incident has prompted speculation of intentional damage. The cuts coincide with ongoing conflict in the region, including attacks by Yemen’s Houthi rebels targeting Israel in response to the Israel-Hamas war in the Gaza Strip.
The Houthis have previously been accused of targeting undersea cables, although they have denied responsibility in the past. Reports indicate an increase in Houthi attacks against shipping in the Red Sea since the beginning of the Israel-Hamas conflict. Repairing the damaged cables is expected to take several weeks, requiring specialized vessels and crews to locate and repair the underwater lines. The situation remains fluid, with investigations ongoing to determine the exact cause of the cable damage.
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