Internet Disruptions Hit India, Pakistan, and UAE Following Red Sea Subsea Cable Outages

Internet connectivity across Asia and the Middle East has been disrupted after subsea cables in the Red Sea were damaged. Notable outages have been reported in India, Pakistan, and the UAE, with Etisalat and Du networks affected. The cause of the damage remains unclear, and the disruption comes amid escalating Houthi rebel attacks on shipping in the Red Sea. Microsoft has also confirmed that its Azure cloud customers may experience higher latency due to rerouted traffic.

Internet connectivity across Asia and the Middle East has been disrupted following the damage to subsea cables in the Red Sea. Reports of notable outages have been reported in India, Pakistan, and the United Arab Emirates, affecting major networks such as Etisalat and Du. The cause of the damage remains unclear, but the disruption coincides with escalating Houthi rebel attacks on shipping in the Red Sea. Microsoft has also confirmed that its Azure cloud customers may experience higher latency due to rerouted traffic.

The Red Sea is a critical digital corridor linking Europe with Africa and Asia. Undersea cables are one of the backbones of the internet, and their damage can significantly impact connectivity. The disruption has been attributed to failures affecting the SMW4 and IMEWE cable systems near Jeddah, Saudi Arabia [1]. These cables are operated by Tata Communications and a consortium overseen by Alcatel Submarine Networks, respectively.

Microsoft announced that its Azure cloud services have resumed normal operations after the disruption. The company stated that its engineering teams worked to reroute data and minimize service delays, noting that undersea fiber cuts can take time to repair [2]. Despite the damage, Microsoft has emphasized that its Azure services have returned to stable conditions, although monitoring and optimization efforts will continue until full repairs are completed.

The recent attacks on undersea cables come amid a series of escalating conflicts in the region. Yemen’s Houthi rebels have been targeting shipping in the Red Sea, including attacks on over 100 vessels since November 2023 [3]. The Houthis have denied responsibility for the recent cable cuts but have acknowledged the disruptions, citing NetBlocks [1].

The damage to the subsea cables has raised concerns about the security and stability of internet infrastructure in the region. The complexity of repairs in the Red Sea, compounded by security risks, has further complicated efforts to restore connectivity. Repair operations often involve locating and repairing the damaged cable, which can take weeks to complete.

In response to the disruption, Microsoft has also announced plans to enforce mandatory multifactor authentication (MFA) for Azure users from October 1, 2025. The company has cited research showing that MFA can block more than 99% of account compromise attempts, making it one of the most effective safeguards against rising cyber threats [2].

The current disruption underscores the vulnerability of undersea cables and the need for robust security measures to protect critical infrastructure. As the conflict in the region persists, the future of internet connectivity in Asia and the Middle East remains uncertain.

References:
[1] https://apnews.com/article/red-sea-undersea-cables-cut-internet-disruption-yemen-b79fe7b9764647ac0851b9390a313e70
[2] https://www.businessworld.in/article/microsoft-restores-azure-services-after-red-sea-cable-disruption-570486
[3] https://nypost.com/2025/09/07/world-news/undersea-cables-cut-in-red-sea-interrupting-internet-in-the-region/