Microsoft Azure, a leading cloud computing service, has faced disruptions recently due to damage to undersea cables in the Red Sea. The company has acknowledged that this incident is causing delays for users in the region.
According to Microsoft, the connectivity issues stem from problems affecting internet traffic flow in the Middle East. Users of Azure services can expect slower response times as a result. Although the specific reasons for the cable cuts have not been disclosed, the impact has been significant enough to prompt a rerouting of traffic through alternative channels.
Additional reports emerged over the weekend indicating that similar cable cut incidents have also affected connectivity in the United Arab Emirates and parts of Asia. These complications are connected to the undersea cables that are essential for global internet communication.
On its status page, Microsoft noted that the Azure services relying on traffic through the Middle East "may experience increased latency due to undersea fiber cuts in the Red Sea." The company clarified that services not passing through this area are not impacted.
Undersea cables play a pivotal role in global communications, often described as the internet's backbone. They enable data transmission between continents. Incidents leading to their damage can arise from various causes, including accidental impacts from shipping activities or intentional attacks.
Last weekend, NetBlocks, an organization monitoring internet access, reported on the cable damage, highlighting its effects on several countries like India and Pakistan. The Pakistan Telecommunication Company issued a warning regarding potential internet slowdowns due to these cuts near Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.
Furthermore, incidents involving undersea cables are not isolated. Earlier this year, cables in the Red Sea suffered damage affecting the data flow between Asia and Europe, coinciding with warnings from Yemen's government about potential sabotages by the Houthi movement, claims the Houthis refuted.
In the Baltic Sea, threats to undersea communications have also escalated since Russia's invasion of Ukraine in 2022, with multiple cables being damaged under suspicious circumstances. Authorities in Sweden even detained a vessel suspected of sabotaging a cable route.
The ongoing disruptions to Microsoft Azure due to undersea cable cuts highlight the vulnerability of digital infrastructure that underpin global connectivity. As investigations into the causes of these incidents continue, companies and users alike are urged to remain vigilant as they navigate these service interruptions.