Widespread internet disruptions have hit parts of Asia, including India, Pakistan, and several other countries, due to severed undersea cables in the Red Sea. Experts have confirmed the outages, but the circumstances surrounding the cable damage are still being investigated.
There are suspicions that the damage is the result of attacks by Yemen’s Houthi rebels. The rebels are believed to be trying to exert pressure on Israel related to the ongoing conflict in Gaza, although the Houthis have previously denied any role in damaging the cables.
NetBlocks, a group that monitors internet connectivity, reported significant disruptions across multiple countries as a result of the cable damage in the Red Sea. The organization pinpointed the problem to technical faults affecting the SMW4 and IMEWE cable systems near Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.
The SMW4 cable, which connects Southeast Asia, the Middle East, and Western Europe, is operated by India’s Tata Communications. The IMEWE cable, which also connects India, the Middle East, and Western Europe, is operated by a different consortium, with oversight from Alcatel-Lucent. Both companies have yet to issue any public comments on the situation.
In the United Arab Emirates, including Dubai and Abu Dhabi, users of the Du and Etisalat networks, both government-owned companies, have reported experiencing slower internet speeds. The government has not officially confirmed the issue yet. Saudi Arabian authorities have yet to comment on the internet service interruptions.
Microsoft confirmed on its status website that reduced internet speeds are possible in the Middle East due to the damaged Red Sea cables. The company, based in Redmond, Washington, provided no additional details but stated that internet traffic not passing through the Middle East should not be impacted.
The cable cuts coincide with escalating tensions in the region, with the Houthi rebels in Yemen targeting Israel in connection with the ongoing conflict in Gaza. Israel has responded with airstrikes, resulting in reported casualties among the rebel leadership.
Earlier in 2024, Yemen’s internationally recognized government accused the Houthi rebels of plotting to damage the undersea cables in the Red Sea. Several cables were damaged, but the Houthis denied responsibility. However, on Sunday, the Houthi-backed Al-Masirah satellite news channel acknowledged that the cable cuts had indeed occurred.
During the period from November 2023 to December 2024, the Houthi rebels have launched missile and drone attacks on over 100 vessels as part of the ongoing conflict involving Israel and Hamas.