Multiple key undersea cables that ferry internet traffic across the Red Sea have been seriously damaged, according to telecom providers. Hong Kong based HGC Global Communications estimates that as much as 25% of internet traffic between Asia, Europe and the Middle East has been impacted by the cuts.
HGC said they have been forced to reroute traffic and are assisting customers to minimize disruption. South African cable owner Seacom also confirmed damage to their system. Repairs are expected to take at least a month due to the lengthy permit process to work in the area where the cables are located.
The location of the damage is between the coastal Egyptian city of Alexandria on the Mediterranean and Jeddah in Saudi Arabia on the Red Sea. This route hosts the SEA-ME-WE 3, SEA-ME-WE 4 and SEA-ME-WE 5 cables which carry up to 12.8 terabits per second of total bandwidth capacity.
According to reports from Israeli outlet Globes, the Houthi rebels in Yemen are suspected to be behind the attacks. However, Houthi leader Abdel-Malik al-Houthi denied these claims and instead accused British and American naval units operating in the area.
If sabotage is confirmed, it would severely undermine global connectivity at a time when stable internet access is crucial. It could also escalate tensions as the Houthis continue assaults on commercial shipping in the Red Sea, a key global trade route. Experts have warned of potential outages should multiple cables be damaged, as seen after earthquakes severed cables in Taiwan in 2006.
Telecom companies are making efforts to reroute traffic and minimize disruption however repairs could still take weeks. With major companies reliant on undersea cables for connectivity, any prolonged outages will significantly impact business operations in the region. Authorities are investigating the cause of the damage but ensuring the safety of these vital infrastructure assets in conflict zones remains a pressing challenge.
