Microsoft has confirmed that its Azure cloud services—used by businesses worldwide—were disrupted after undersea cables in the Red Sea were cut, slowing internet traffic across the Middle East.
The company said users may face increased latency when traffic passes through the region but stressed that connections not routed via the Middle East remain unaffected. Microsoft added that it has rerouted some traffic through alternative paths to reduce the impact.
Widespread Internet Strain
The disruption comes after reports over the weekend of cable damage affecting the United Arab Emirates and several Asian countries.
NetBlocks, a watchdog group tracking global connectivity, said multiple cable cuts had caused problems in countries including India and Pakistan. Pakistan’s state telecom provider warned that peak-hour internet services could face slowdowns, pinpointing the damage near Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.
Vulnerable Lifelines
Undersea cables, often described as the backbone of the internet, carry data between continents. They can be accidentally damaged by ship anchors but have also been targets of sabotage.
In February 2024, cables in the Red Sea were severed just weeks after Yemen’s government accused Iran-backed Houthi rebels of planning such attacks. The Houthis denied involvement.
Similar risks have been seen in Europe: since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, a number of Baltic Sea cables and pipelines have been damaged in suspected attacks. Swedish investigators this year even seized a ship suspected of cutting a cable to Latvia, describing the case as possible sabotage.
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