Undersea cables cut in Red Sea, disrupting internet access in Asia and Mideast
3 days ago
- #internet-disruption
- #Houthi-rebels
- #Red-Sea
- Undersea cables in the Red Sea were cut, disrupting internet access in parts of Asia and the Middle East.
- The cause of the cable cuts is unclear, but concerns arise due to Yemen's Houthi rebels' campaign in the Red Sea.
- Microsoft and NetBlocks reported increased latency and degraded connectivity in countries like India, Pakistan, and Saudi Arabia.
- Key affected cables include SMW4 and IMEWE, managed by Tata Communications and Alcatel Submarine Networks, respectively.
- Pakistan Telecommunications Co. Ltd. and Kuwait authorities confirmed disruptions, while Saudi Arabia and the UAE did not officially acknowledge the issue.
- Undersea cables can be damaged by accidents or deliberate attacks, with repairs taking weeks.
- The Houthis have previously denied targeting undersea cables but have been involved in maritime attacks linked to the Israel-Hamas conflict.
- Recent Houthi attacks have included targeting ships and disrupting maritime routes, raising tensions in the region.