Red Sea Cable Cuts Disrupt Internet Access Across Asia & Middle East: What You Need to Know
Dubai, United arab Emirates – Important disruptions to internet service are impacting parts of Asia and the Middle East following reported cuts to multiple undersea cables in the Red Sea.While the exact cause remains under investigation, the outages are causing increased latency and slower speeds for users in several countries.
What Happened?
Multiple sources, including Microsoft and internet monitoring firm NetBlocks, confirmed the disruptions on Sunday. NetBlocks specifically identified failures affecting the SMW4 and IMEWE cable systems near Jeddah, Saudi arabia. These cables are critical infrastructure, forming a vital backbone of global internet connectivity alongside satellite and land-based networks.
Microsoft reported that the Middle east ”may experience increased latency” due to the cuts, but stated that traffic outside the region remains unaffected. Pakistan Telecommunications Co. Ltd. officially acknowledged the incident on Saturday