Multiple undersea fibre-optic cables in the Red Sea were severed early on September 6, 2025 (05:45 GMT), degrading internet connectivity across Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Pakistan and India, according to network monitoring groups and cloud providers.
What happened
Microsoft said that "network traffic traversing through the Middle East may experience increased latency due to undersea fibre cuts in the Red Sea," while internet observatory NetBlocks reported degraded connectivity in several countries. NetBlocks and industry trackers pointed to faults on the SEA-ME-WE 4 (SMW4) and IMEWE systems near Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.
Why this matters
The vast majority of international internet traffic travels through submarine cables, not satellites. The Red Sea is a critical corridor linking Asia, Africa and Europe; when multiple cables in this chokepoint fail, the ripple effects can be felt thousands of kilometres away as traffic is rerouted onto alternative paths with limited capacity.
How submarine cables work
- Hundreds of cables span the world's oceans, together stretching well over a million kilometres
- Each cable contains fibre strands thinner than a human hair that carry light pulses
- Data is amplified along the route by repeaters placed roughly every 50–100 km
- Cables are buried in shallow waters and lie on the seabed in deep ocean
- Typical design life is about 25 years; threats include anchors, fishing and landslides
Who is affected
Connectivity slowdowns and increased latency were observed in Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Pakistan and India. Businesses relying on real‑time communications, cloud services and financial transactions experienced the most visible impact as traffic took longer routes.
What caused the cuts
The cause remained under investigation as of September 8. Accidental damage from ship anchors and fishing activity is the most common reason for cable faults. Regional tensions have also raised concerns about sabotage; in 2024, Yemen's internationally recognised government alleged Houthi plans to target undersea cables in the Red Sea, an accusation the group denied. No attribution has been made for the 2025 incident.
Repairs and timeline
Restoring service requires specialised cable ships to locate and lift damaged sections and splice in new fibre. Under stable conditions, repairs can take 2–4 weeks, though security considerations in the Red Sea may complicate scheduling and safe access.
Recent history
The Red Sea has seen repeated disruptions. In early 2024, several systems in the area were cut, underscoring the strategic importance and vulnerability of this bottleneck for global connectivity.