Red Sea Cable Cuts Disrupt Global Internet, Hit Microsoft Azure Services

Global connectivity faced a major setback on September 6, 2025, after multiple undersea internet cables in the Red Sea were cut, disrupting digital traffic between Asia, Europe, and the Middle East.

The affected systems include the Asia-Africa-Europe-1 (AAE-1), Europe India Gateway (EIG), and SEACOM/TGN-EA cable networks—some of the most important data arteries carrying internet traffic between continents.

Microsoft Azure Impact

Technology giant Microsoft confirmed that its Azure cloud services were directly affected, with customers experiencing slower speeds and increased latency as traffic was forced to reroute through longer alternative pathways. While services remain operational, businesses depending on real-time connections between Asia and Europe have reported noticeable slowdowns.

Global Chokepoint

Experts warn that this incident underlines the vulnerability of the Red Sea corridor, which carries around 17% of the world’s internet traffic. It acts as a digital highway, linking Europe to Asia and Africa. Any disruption here can ripple worldwide, affecting cloud services, financial systems, online communications, and global trade.

Possible Causes

The exact cause of the cuts remains unconfirmed. Historically, most cable breaks happen accidentally due to ship anchors dragging along the seabed. However, given the region’s fragile security situation, deliberate sabotage is also being considered. In the past, groups like the Houthis in Yemen have been suspected of targeting maritime and communication infrastructure, though no group has claimed responsibility for the latest incident.

Regions Feeling the Disruption

Internet users in Saudi Arabia, India, Pakistan, the UAE, and Kuwait have already reported slower browsing and connection issues. Cloud-based services and financial transactions relying on fast data exchange between Europe and Asia are experiencing delays.

Repair Timeline

Repairing undersea cables is a complex process. Specialized ships need to locate the exact damaged point, retrieve the cables from the seabed, and carry out splicing operations. This can take several weeks, depending on weather conditions and security in the area. Until then, companies like Microsoft and global telecom operators are working to reroute internet traffic through other longer routes, which keeps data flowing but at reduced efficiency.

Why It Matters

The Red Sea has become not only a shipping choke point but also a digital chokepoint. This disruption highlights the fragility of global internet infrastructure, showing how even a single incident in one region can affect billions of people worldwide.