Microsoft Azure faces delays due to undersea cable damage in the Red Sea
The cloud services of Microsoft Azure have been disrupted by subsea cable interruptions in the Red Sea. Users of the cloud computing platform experienced delays as Internet traffic in the Middle East was disrupted. Although Microsoft did not specify the cause of the damage, the company confirmed that traffic was being rerouted via alternative routes to minimise interruptions.
Reports over the weekend suggested that cable breaks have affected Internet services in the United Arab Emirates and several Asian countries. Subsea cables are essential for global data transmission and often form the backbone of the internet.
Microsoft has posted a statement on its website explaining that network traffic passing through the Middle East may experience increased latency as a result of the severed fibre optic cables. The company assured users that network connectivity remains intact thanks to rerouted traffic and that it expects only minimal delays for data that previously passed through the affected region.
NetBlocks, an organisation that monitors Internet access, has confirmed reports of damage to subsea cables in the Red Sea, thereby confirming the disruption of Internet services in countries such as India and Pakistan. The Pakistan Telecommunication Company warned users of possible service degradation during peak hours and attributed the outages to incidents near the Saudi city of Jeddah.
Subsea cables are susceptible to damage from various sources, including ship anchors. In some cases, these cables have been deliberately targeted. In February 2024, several communication cables in the Red Sea were severed, disrupting Internet traffic between Asia and Europe. This incident followed warnings from Yemen’s internationally recognized government about possible sabotage by the Iran-backed Houthi movement, although the Houthis denied any involvement.
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