Fiber optic cable failure in West Asia

Undersea fiber optic cables in the Red Sea were severed near Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, disrupting internet connectivity across West Asia and parts of Asia.

Incident Overview

A series of undersea cable cuts in the Red Sea caused widespread internet slowdowns and increased latency in countries including India, Pakistan, Kuwait, and the United Arab Emirates . The affected infrastructure includes the SMW4 (Southeast Asia–Middle East–Western Europe 4) and IMEWE (India–Middle East–Western Europe) cable systems, which are critical for cross-continental data traffic . These cables carry an estimated 17% of global internet traffic, making the Red Sea a key digital corridor linking Asia, Europe, and Africa .

Impact on Connectivity

The cable failure led to slower internet speeds, higher latency, and sporadic outages for millions of users in the region . Major cloud services, including Microsoft Azure, reported that traffic routed through West Asia experienced delays, although traffic bypassing the region remained unaffected . Telecom providers in the UAE, such as e& and du, issued advisories acknowledging the disruptions and confirmed that technical teams were working to restore normal service .

Possible Causes

The exact cause of the cable cuts remains uncertain. While accidental damage from ship anchors or seismic activity is common, the cables' proximity to ongoing regional conflicts has raised concerns about potential sabotage. Yemen's Houthi rebels, who have previously targeted commercial shipping in the Red Sea, have been suspected, though they have denied involvement in similar past incidents .

Response and Mitigation

Internet service providers typically maintain multiple access points and can reroute traffic when cables fail, which mitigates total outages but often results in slower connections . Microsoft and other technology companies have diverted traffic through alternative routes outside the Middle East to reduce the impact on users . Repair operations for undersea cables are complex and can take several days depending on the location and severity of the damage.

Significance

This incident highlights the vulnerability of global internet infrastructure, particularly undersea fiber optic networks that form the backbone of intercontinental connectivity. Disruptions in such critical corridors can have regional and global consequences, affecting businesses, cloud services, and everyday internet users .