In brief
A recent cable cut in the Red Sea has disrupted internet services across multiple countries in Africa and Asia, sparking concerns about the security of undersea cables. The damage is believed to be caused by commercial shipping activity. Experts stress the growing vulnerability of these critical connections.
DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — A ship likely cut undersea cables in the Red Sea, disrupting internet access across countries in Africa, Asia, and the Middle East, experts reported on Tuesday. This incident underscores the fragility of undersea internet infrastructure over a year after a similar disruption.
The International Cable Protection Committee confirmed that 15 submarine cables run through the narrow Bab el-Mandeb Strait, which separates East Africa from the Arabian Peninsula. The affected cables include the South East Asia–Middle East–Western Europe 4, the India-Middle East-Western Europe, and the FALCON GCX cables, with the Europe India Gateway cable being added to the list soon after.
Initial reports suggested that the damage occurred off the coast of Jeddah, Saudi Arabia; however, authorities in Saudi Arabia and cable management companies have not confirmed this. Internet disruptions have been reported across numerous nations in Asia and the Mideast.
John Wrottesley, operations manager at the committee, indicated that the probable cause was commercial shipping activity, specifically that dragged anchors from vessels account for about 30% of incidents damaging submarine cables annually. Doug Madory, director of internet analysis at Kentik, noted that the cables in the Red Sea are typically at a shallow depth, which makes them particularly susceptible to anchor damage.
Madory explained that the working assumption is that a commercial vessel may have dropped its anchor and dragged it across the four cables, severing the connections. This incident has highlighted the vulnerabilities of undersea cables, which are essential for global internet connectivity.
Typically, multiple access points allow internet service providers to reroute traffic when one segment fails, but this can lead to slower user access due to increased latency. The recent cable cut is believed to have affected at least ten nations, including India, Pakistan, and the United Arab Emirates.
Security concerns around undersea cables have been heightened following attacks by Yemen's Houthi rebels on maritime targets, particularly in light of ongoing tensions stemming from the Israel-Hamas conflict. The Houthis have previously been accused of planning attacks against undersea cables, leading to fears of similar disruptions as those experienced in early 2024.
