In brief
An incident involving the cutting of submarine cables in the Red Sea has affected internet connectivity in at least 10 countries, including India and the UAE. Experts believe this could be attributed to commercial shipping activities, emphasizing the vulnerabilities of undersea cable systems.
DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — A ship likely cut undersea cables in the Red Sea over the weekend, leading to disrupted internet services across Africa, Asia, and the Middle East.
The International Cable Protection Committee reported that the incident disrupted multiple submarine cables, notably the South East Asia–Middle East–Western Europe 4, India-Middle East-Western Europe, and FALCON GCX cables. On Wednesday, the Europe India Gateway cable was also confirmed to be affected, according to Doug Madory, director of internet analysis at Kentik.
Authorities have not confirmed initial reports that indicate the damage occurred off the coast of Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, with the incident affecting internet connectivity for users across several nations.
John Wrottesley, operations manager for the cable committee, indicated that the damage most likely resulted from commercial shipping activity in the region. He noted that approximately 30% of undersea cable incidents each year are caused by dragged anchors, a common issue due to the shallow depths in which many cables are laid.
Madory echoed this assessment, stating the primary theory is that a commercial vessel dropped its anchor and damaged the cables underneath. As a result, users in at least 10 countries have reported slow internet speeds, including those in India, Pakistan, and the United Arab Emirates.
Undersea communication cables are vital for global internet connectivity, but incidents like this underscore their vulnerabilities. Despite techniques to reroute traffic when some cables fail, users may still experience increased latency.
The security of undersea cables has been a growing concern, especially in light of recent military conflicts in the region, including attacks by Yemen’s Houthi rebels on maritime vessels. In early 2024, allegations surfaced claiming the Houthis planned attacks on undersea cables, contributing to heightened fears and recent cable severing incidents.
