Major internet connectivity problems have been reported across several parts of India and Pakistan , besides Middle East following the damage to multiple international undersea fiberoptic cables in the Red Sea. The disruption has significantly slowed down browsing speeds, video streaming, and communication services, creating widespread inconvenience for millions of users.
Internet disruptions have been reported in the Middle East and South Asia after multiple undersea cable cuts in the Red Sea, tech giant Microsoft, which has been criticised for its links to Israel as its war on Gaza rages on, said in a statement.The statement on Sunday did not give further details about what caused the cuts.While concerns were raised over possible sabotage amid ongoing conflict in the region, it was not immediately clear what caused the incident.
According to initial assessments, at least four major submarine cables that carry data traffic between Asia, Europe, and the Middle East were cut earlier this week. These cables form a critical part of the global communication network, and their damage has severely affected regional bandwidth availability.
Telecom operators and internet service providers in both India and Pakistan have acknowledged the outages. They have assured customers that emergency measures are being taken to reroute data traffic through alternative international networks. However, experts say rerouting capacity is limited, which is why users will continue to experience slow internet speeds until full restoration is achieved.
Repairing submarine cables is a complex process that requires specialized ships and favorable weather conditions. Sources indicate that it may take several days, or even weeks, before the damaged infrastructure is fully restored.The Red Sea is a vital corridor for global internet traffic, with several international cable systems passing through it. Disruptions in this region often cause ripple effects across Asia, Europe, and Africa.
This latest incident has once again highlighted the vulnerability of global internet connectivity, which relies heavily on a handful of undersea cables. Experts are calling for greater investment in diversified routes and satellite-based systems to reduce dependence on these choke points.Meanwhile, users in India and Pakistan have been urged to expect continued slowdowns in streaming, video calls, and other bandwidth-heavy services until repairs are completed.