September 8: Microsoft has confirmed that Azure cloud services are experiencing disruptions after undersea internet cables in the Red Sea were cut, affecting internet traffic across parts of the Middle East, South Asia, and beyond.
In an official update, the tech giant said Azure users might face delays and increased latency as internet traffic through the affected region is rerouted.
“Azure traffic traversing the Middle East may experience increased latency due to undersea fibre cuts in the Red Sea,” Microsoft said. “Traffic not crossing the Middle East remains unaffected.”
The company did not disclose the cause of the cable damage but assured that alternate routes had been established to maintain connectivity.
Multiple Countries Impacted
Over the weekend, NetBlocks, which monitors internet access worldwide, reported that the cable cuts had disrupted internet services in several countries, including India, Pakistan, and the UAE.
The Pakistan Telecommunication Company confirmed that the damage occurred near Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, warning of possible service slowdowns during peak hours.
Undersea cables form the backbone of global internet infrastructure, carrying massive volumes of data between continents. While cables are sometimes damaged accidentally by ship anchors, there have also been suspicions of deliberate sabotage in recent years.
In February 2024, several cables in the Red Sea were cut weeks after Yemen’s government warned that the Iran-backed Houthi movement might target cables and ships. The Houthis denied involvement.
Similar concerns arose in Europe, where undersea cables and pipelines in the Baltic Sea were damaged following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in 2022. Swedish authorities even seized a ship suspected of damaging a cable to Latvia, pointing to possible sabotage.