Microsoft warns of network disruptions after subsea cables “cut” in Red Sea

Global tech giant Microsoft warned this weekend that network traffic on its Azure cloud computing platform was experiencing increased delays in parts of the Middle East due to “undersea fibre cuts” in the Red Sea.

The disruption was caused by “multiple international subsea cables” being cut in the Red Sea, according to a company press statement cited by Dawn. Microsoft did not specify what led to the damage but confirmed that its network had been affected since September 6.

“Network traffic that does not traverse through the Middle East is not impacted,” the company stated.

The internet monitoring group NetBlocks reported that a series of submarine cable outages in the Red Sea had degraded internet connectivity in multiple countries, including India and Pakistan.

Microsoft Azure, a major competitor to Amazon Web Services (AWS), serves approximately 722 million users globally.

Global internet and telecom cables traditionally follow shipping routes through the Red Sea, but concerns about their security have grown since Yemen’s Houthi rebels began attacking merchant vessels in late 2023 following the outbreak of the Israel-Hamas war in the Gaza Strip.

The laying and maintenance of underwater cables were historically managed by large telecom consortia, but in recent years, major internet firms have taken the lead to meet the surging demand for data.

Microsoft and other tech companies, including Meta, have invested heavily in subsea cable networks to expand global connectivity and operations.

Currently, about 1.4 million kilometres of fibre-optic cables lie on the ocean floor, enabling critical services such as trade, financial transactions, public services, digital health, and education worldwide.

Damage to submarine cables is not unusual and can result from factors such as fishing activity, anchoring, or ageing equipment. However, there have also been recorded cases of deliberate sabotage, such as several suspected cases in the Baltic Sea.

By Nazrin Sadigova