Microsoft's Azure cloud services have been disrupted by undersea cable cuts in the Red Sea, the US tech giant says. The company stated that Azure users could expect delays due to issues with internet traffic moving through the Middle East. Azure is one of the world’s leading cloud computing platforms. Microsoft did not specify the cause of the undersea cable cuts, clarifying only that it has rerouted traffic through other paths. Over the weekend, other reports suggested that undersea cable cuts also affected the United Arab Emirates and countries in Asia.
An update posted on the Microsoft website on Saturday indicated that Azure traffic through the Middle East may experience increased latency due to undersea fiber cuts in the Red Sea. It stressed that traffic not traversing through the Middle East is not impacted.
Cables laid on the ocean floor transmit data between continents and are often described as the backbone of the internet. On Saturday, NetBlocks, an organization that monitors internet access, reported that a series of subsea cable cuts in the Red Sea had disrupted internet services in multiple countries, including India and Pakistan. The Pakistan Telecommunication Company warned that internet services could be affected during peak hours due to cable cuts occurring near Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. NetBlocks also noted disruptions in the UAE.
Undersea cables can suffer damage from dropped ship anchors but may also be intentional targets in attacks. Earlier in 2024, several communications cables in the Red Sea were cut, affecting data traffic between Asia and Europe. This incident occurred shortly after Yemen’s internationally recognized government expressed concerns that the Iran-backed Houthi movement might sabotage undersea cables. The Houthis denied responsibility for targeting cables.
In the Baltic Sea, numerous undersea cables and gas pipelines have faced damage from suspected attacks since the beginning of Russia's invasion of Ukraine. Earlier this year, Swedish authorities detained a ship suspected of damaging a cable to Latvia, with initial investigations suggesting sabotage.
An update posted on the Microsoft website on Saturday indicated that Azure traffic through the Middle East may experience increased latency due to undersea fiber cuts in the Red Sea. It stressed that traffic not traversing through the Middle East is not impacted.
Cables laid on the ocean floor transmit data between continents and are often described as the backbone of the internet. On Saturday, NetBlocks, an organization that monitors internet access, reported that a series of subsea cable cuts in the Red Sea had disrupted internet services in multiple countries, including India and Pakistan. The Pakistan Telecommunication Company warned that internet services could be affected during peak hours due to cable cuts occurring near Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. NetBlocks also noted disruptions in the UAE.
Undersea cables can suffer damage from dropped ship anchors but may also be intentional targets in attacks. Earlier in 2024, several communications cables in the Red Sea were cut, affecting data traffic between Asia and Europe. This incident occurred shortly after Yemen’s internationally recognized government expressed concerns that the Iran-backed Houthi movement might sabotage undersea cables. The Houthis denied responsibility for targeting cables.
In the Baltic Sea, numerous undersea cables and gas pipelines have faced damage from suspected attacks since the beginning of Russia's invasion of Ukraine. Earlier this year, Swedish authorities detained a ship suspected of damaging a cable to Latvia, with initial investigations suggesting sabotage.
