Summary
Undersea cables in the Red Sea were cut, leading to internet disruptions in the Middle East and South Asia. Microsoft reported that the cuts affected its Azure cloud services but did not impact general network traffic. The disruptions began on September 6, 2024, causing slow speeds and intermittent internet access in several countries.
Key Facts
- Internet disruptions occurred in the Middle East and South Asia due to undersea cable cuts in the Red Sea.
- The internet watchdog NetBlocks reported slow and intermittent access in countries like Saudi Arabia, Pakistan, the UAE, and India.
- Microsoft confirmed these disruptions affected its Azure cloud services, the world's second largest after Amazon.
- The disruptions began at 05:45 GMT on September 6, 2024.
- Microsoft stated that general network traffic not passing through the Middle East was not affected.
- Undersea cables carry global internet data and can be damaged by ships' anchors or targeted in attacks.
- The cables affected include the SMW4 and IMEWE systems near Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.
- Microsoft has faced criticism for its ties to Israel amidst ongoing conflicts.
