Media: US "closely monitoring" severed Red Sea internet cables

The US State Department said on September 8 that it is “closely monitoring” the situation after severed undersea cables in the Red Sea significantly slowed internet speeds across parts of the Middle East, India, and Pakistan over the weekend.

A State Department representative told The National that the US is acutely aware of the vital importance of undersea cables for global commerce, communications, and security, Caliber.Az reports.

Connectivity improved by the evening of September 7, but for much of September 6, users in countries including the UAE and Saudi Arabia reported internet speeds had slowed to a crawl. Experts warn some regions could experience disruptions for up to six weeks due to the complexities of underwater cable repairs.

Although there is no evidence of an attack, undersea cables have long been considered potential targets, particularly in politically tense areas like the Red Sea. Recent turmoil in the region has heightened concerns that groups such as Yemen’s Iran-backed Houthi rebels might try to cut cables, though the group has previously denied such actions. Most recent cable damage, however, has been accidental, often caused by ship anchors or debris dragging along the seabed.

Technology companies have been working to mitigate the impact. Microsoft, which reported widespread slow internet speeds across the Middle East, said it maintained network traffic by rerouting it through alternative paths for its Azure cloud computing business.

“We do expect higher latency on some traffic that previously traversed through the Middle East … Network traffic that does not traverse through the Middle East is not impacted,” the company said.

Cloudera, a “hybrid data platform” company, emphasised the broader economic risks.

“An hour of internet outage can cost millions in banking, retail and aviation,” it said, adding that businesses should “now invest in data platforms that reroute and adapt instantly.”

For everyday users, alternative routes can still struggle under increased pressure, particularly as many turned to 5G services during the disruption.

In March 2024, at least three subsea cables were cut, affecting internet traffic in Europe, the Middle East, and parts of Asia. The US government later found that the anchor from the Rubymar, a ship the Houthis had critically damaged, had dragged along the seabed and severed the cables.

By Sabina Mammadli