In brief
Internet service in parts of Asia and the Middle East has been severely disrupted due to undersea cable cuts in the Red Sea, with experts suggesting potential ties to ongoing conflicts involving Yemen's Houthi rebels. Notable affected countries include Pakistan and India, where telecommunications and internet services are reporting significant latency issues. While the cause of the disruptions is still under investigation, the situation highlights the vulnerability of global internet infrastructure to such incidents.
Severe Internet Disruptions After Undersea Cable Cuts
DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — Internet access has been disrupted in parts of Asia and the Middle East following undersea cable cuts in the Red Sea. The exact cause remains unclear, but there is growing speculation regarding potential attacks linked to regional conflicts.
Notably, the Houthi rebels from Yemen have been implicated in the ongoing tensions. They are said to be targeting infrastructure as part of efforts to push Israel to cease its military actions in Gaza. The Houthis have denied previous accusations related to attacks on communication lines.
Undersea cables are crucial to global internet infrastructure, and their damage often leads to increased latency and slower connections. Microsoft confirmed that users in the Middle East might face higher latency due to these disruptions. Reports from NetBlocks indicated that internet outages are substantially affecting connectivity in countries such as India and Pakistan.
The disruptions are tied to failures affecting the SMW4 and IMEWE cable systems near Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. The undersea cables are operated by Tata Communications and a consortium overseen by Alcatel Submarine Networks; both companies did not provide immediate responses to inquiries regarding the incidents.
Pakistan Telecommunications Co. confirmed that the cable cuts have been identified, marking a significant incident in the telecommunications landscape, while Saudi Arabia and Kuwait have witnessed similar connectivity issues due to the FALCON GCX cable cuts.
The potential threats to undersea cables not only stem from natural accidents but can also involve intentional attacks. Such incidents disrupt vital communication lines and can take weeks to repair once identified.
Additionally, as the Houthis maintain offensive actions amidst the Israel-Hamas conflict, the international community is being urged to take a strong stance against such escalating threats that target critical digital infrastructure.
Moammar al-Eryani, the information minister for Yemen's internationally recognized government, emphasized that these cable cuts cannot be separated from the wider context of Houthi attacks. This situation raises alarms about the safety and security of the digital infrastructure that underpins modern communication.
The threats are likely to grow unless international efforts are made to secure critical communication channels amid ongoing regional conflicts.
