Undersea Cable Cuts in Red Sea Disrupt Internet Across Asia and Middle East

September 7, 2025 MTIMES 253 Views Asia internet disruption, global connectivity, IMEWE cable, Microsoft latency warning, Middle East internet outage, Red Sea undersea cable cuts, SMW4 cable, submarine cable damage 3 min read

Major internet disruptions were reported across parts of Asia and the Middle East on Sunday after undersea cables in the Red Sea were damaged. The exact cause of the incident remains uncertain, but connectivity monitors confirmed that the outage significantly slowed online services in multiple countries.

According to NetBlocks, which tracks global internet performance, the disruption impacted key subsea systems including the South East Asia–Middle East–Western Europe 4 (SMW4) and the India-Middle East-Western Europe (IMEWE) lines near Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.

Microsoft also alerted users through its online service status page, stating that customers in the Middle East “may experience increased latency due to undersea fibre cuts,” though traffic routed outside the affected region remained largely stable.

Red Sea Undersea Cable Cuts Impact Internet in Asia and Middle East

Submarine cables form the backbone of global connectivity, handling the majority of international data. When such links are damaged, providers usually reroute traffic, but users often notice slower internet speeds. Experts note that repairing undersea cables is a time-consuming process, as it requires specialised ships to locate and fix lines lying deep under the seabed—a task that can take weeks.

Red Sea Undersea Cable Cuts Raise Security Concerns

The incident has raised fresh concerns about security in the Red Sea, a region that has seen escalating tensions since late 2023. Yemen’s Houthi rebels have repeatedly targeted shipping lanes, describing the attacks as pressure tactics against Israel over the war in Gaza. Although speculation about sabotage has surfaced, the Houthis have denied involvement in damaging subsea cables.

Internet Disruptions Affect India and Other Countries

Reports suggest that India, along with several Middle Eastern nations, faced noticeable slowdowns in internet services. The outages highlighted how vulnerable international communication networks remain despite backup systems and rerouting options.

Repairs Expected to Take Time

Telecom analysts say restoration may take several weeks depending on the scale of the damage. Specialised cable-repair vessels are typically dispatched to pinpoint faults and restore broken connections. Until then, users across affected regions may continue experiencing unstable or slower internet speeds.

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