Hyderabad: Global internet connectivity was hit after the Red Sea cable cuts disrupted nearly 17 per cent of worldwide traffic on September 6. Microsoft confirmed that its Azure cloud platform was among the services affected.
The damaged cables included SEACOM/TGN-EA, AAE-1, and EIG, which link Europe and Asia. The company said repairs will take time, and users continue to face slow speeds and delays.
Red Sea cable cuts impact business and online services
Microsoft reported that traffic through the Middle East was most affected. Businesses, streaming services, and online classes experienced major disruptions as latency increased. Engineers are now rerouting connections to alternate pathways.
The cause of the cable cuts remains uncertain. Previous incidents were linked to ship anchors or sabotage. Though speculation arose over the ongoing conflict in the Red Sea and the Houthis’s rebel activity, the Houthis denied involvement.
Experts warned that targeting digital infrastructure could become a future security threat. Governments and telecom operators have begun investigations, but no evidence has yet been found.
