Internet services across parts of Asia, including India and Pakistan, experienced disruptions on Sunday. These disruptions were caused by damage to undersea cables in the Red Sea. Experts have confirmed the issue, although the exact cause of the damage remains unclear.
Concerns have been raised that Houthi rebels in Yemen may be targeting the cables. Some reports suggest the rebels are attempting to pressure Israel to halt its conflict with Hamas in Gaza, though the Houthis have previously denied responsibility for such attacks.
NetBlocks, an organization that monitors internet access, stated that multiple cable cuts in the Red Sea have impacted internet connectivity in several countries, including India and Pakistan. The organization indicated that the problem stemmed from technical faults in the SMW4 and IMEWE cable systems near Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.
The South East Asia-Middle East-Western Europe 4 (SMW4) cable is operated by Tata Communications, an Indian company and part of a large Indian conglomerate. The India-Middle East-Western Europe (IMEWE) cable is managed by another consortium under the supervision of Alcatel-Lucent. Both companies have not yet issued any statements on the matter.
In the United Arab Emirates, where Dubai and Abu Dhabi are located, internet users reported slower speeds on the networks of the government-owned companies Du and Etisalat. The government has also not yet formally acknowledged the issue. Saudi Arabia has not yet acknowledged the disruptions, and officials there have not responded to requests for comment.
Microsoft acknowledged on its status website that the Middle East may experience reduced internet speeds due to the damaged undersea cables in the Red Sea. The Redmond, Washington-based company did not provide specific details, but it confirmed that internet traffic not routed through the Middle East was unaffected.
The cable cuts occurred amid a backdrop of ongoing tensions involving Houthi rebels in Yemen, who have been launching attacks against Israel in response to the Israeli-Hamas conflict in the Gaza Strip. Israel has retaliated with airstrikes, reportedly killing several senior rebel leaders.
In early 2024, the internationally recognized exiled government of Yemen accused the Houthis of planning attacks on undersea cables in the Red Sea. Several cables were cut, but the Houthis denied involvement. On Sunday morning, the Houthi-supported Al-Masirah satellite news channel acknowledged that the cable cuts had occurred.
From November 2023 to December 2024, Houthi rebels targeted over 100 ships with missiles and drones during the Israel-Hamas conflict.