Internet access in Asia, Mideast disrupted after undersea cables cut in Red Sea

Internet access in Asia, Mideast disrupted after undersea cables cut in Red Sea
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Undersea cable cuts in the Red Sea have disrupted Internet access across parts of Asia and the Middle East, Arab News reported. The disruption began early Sunday, though the exact cause remains unclear. Concerns have been raised about possible targeting by Yemen’s Houthi rebels, who are engaged in a campaign against Israel amid the ongoing Israel-Hamas conflict. However, the Houthis have denied involvement in past cable cuts.

Undersea cables are critical infrastructure for global Internet connectivity, alongside satellites and land-based cables. Typically, Internet providers reroute traffic when cables fail, but such disruptions can slow down service. Microsoft reported increased latency in the Middle East due to fiber cuts in the Red Sea, while Internet traffic bypassing the region remains unaffected.

NetBlocks, an Internet monitoring group, reported outages affecting the SMW4 and IMEWE cable systems near Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, impacting countries including India and Pakistan. Pakistan Telecommunications Co. Ltd. acknowledged the cuts, while Saudi and UAE authorities have not officially commented.

Cable damage can result from ship anchors or deliberate attacks, with repairs taking weeks.