By Coolcaesar
Microsoft has confirmed that its Azure cloud services have been disrupted due to damage to undersea cables in the Red Sea, causing delays for some users as internet traffic through the Middle East was rerouted.
Azure, one of the world’s largest cloud computing platforms, warned customers that they may experience slower response times as a result of the incident. The U.S. technology company did not disclose the cause of the cable damage but said alternative pathways had been activated to maintain service.
The disruption comes amid reports over the weekend that cable cuts in the Red Sea were affecting internet connectivity in the United Arab Emirates and parts of Asia. Undersea cables, which carry the vast majority of the world’s internet traffic, are often referred to as the backbone of the global internet.
In an update posted on Saturday, Microsoft said: “Azure traffic traversing through the Middle East may experience increased latency due to undersea fibre cuts in the Red Sea.” It added that customers whose traffic did not pass through the region were unaffected.
Independent monitoring group NetBlocks reported that the outages had hit several countries, including India and Pakistan. Pakistan Telecommunication Company Ltd (PTCL) later confirmed the issue, stating on X (formerly Twitter) that the cuts had occurred in waters near the Saudi port city of Jeddah. PTCL warned that users could face slowdowns during peak hours as traffic was rerouted.
Cable breaks are not uncommon and can be caused accidentally by anchors from passing ships. However, there have also been instances in which cables have been deliberately damaged.
In February 2024, multiple cables in the Red Sea were severed, disrupting internet traffic between Asia and Europe. The incident came a month after Yemen’s internationally recognised government alleged that the Iran-backed Houthi movement could attempt to sabotage cables or attack shipping in the Red Sea. The Houthis denied responsibility.
Concerns about deliberate sabotage of undersea infrastructure have grown since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in 2022, which was followed by unexplained damage to pipelines and cables in the Baltic Sea. Earlier this year, Swedish authorities seized a vessel suspected of damaging a cable running between Sweden and Latvia. Prosecutors said their initial findings pointed to sabotage.
Microsoft stressed that it had been able to restore much of its service by redirecting data through unaffected routes but acknowledged that customers in regions dependent on Middle Eastern traffic could still face higher latency until repairs are completed.
