Undersea fiber-optic cable cuts in the Red Sea temporarily disrupted Microsoft Azure, affecting nearly 17% of global internet traffic. The incident highlights how fragile global connectivity can be when critical digital corridors are damaged.
What Happened?
Multiple submarine cables—including SEACOM/TGN‑EA, AAE‑1, and EIG—were damaged, slowing traffic between Asia and Europe. Users, especially in the Middle East and South Asia, experienced slower internet speeds and latency issues.
Microsoft Azure Impact
- Service Disruption: Azure experienced slow connections and intermittent outages.
- Traffic Rerouting: Microsoft rerouted traffic through alternative cables to stabilize services.
- Restoration Status: Services are now restored, though physical repairs to cables are ongoing.
Regional Effects
| Region / Country | Impact on Internet & Services | Notes |
| India | Slower internet speeds, cloud service delays | SMEs and cloud-dependent businesses affected |
| Pakistan | Higher latency, intermittent outages | Telecom operators rerouted traffic |
| UAE & Middle East | Service disruptions for cloud users | Businesses relying on Azure most impacted |
| Europe & Asia routes | Slight congestion and delays | Rerouting helped stabilize traffic |
Why It Matters
The Red Sea is a crucial maritime chokepoint for global internet traffic. Damage to cables here shows how a single event can ripple across continents, impacting millions of users and highlighting the need for redundant routes and resilient infrastructure.
Conclusion
While Microsoft Azure services are restored, this event serves as a reminder of the fragility of global internet networks and the importance of monitoring and redundancy in cloud and connectivity infrastructure.
