Microsoft’s Azure cloud platform, one of the largest cloud computing networks in the world, faced service disruptions. The disruption is due to undersea fiber cable damage in the Red Sea. The cable damage is slowing internet traffic through the Middle East. It is also impacting customers across Asia, the United Arab Emirates, and other regions.
What’s Happening & Why This Matters
Internet Backbone — Severed
Azure reported that internet traffic traveling through the Middle East “may experience increased latency” due to the damage. While traffic not routed through the region remains unaffected, the Red Sea serves as a critical connector for data transmission between Asia, Europe, and the Middle East.
Undersea fibre cables are often called the backbone of the global internet, carrying vast amounts of data between continents. When these cables are damaged, disruptions ripple across industries, governments, and individuals who rely on cloud services for communication and business operations.
Possible Causes and Implications
Microsoft has not disclosed the cause of the cable cuts. Historically, such damage has been caused by dropped ship anchors, accidental construction interference, or even deliberate sabotage.
Reports indicate that the recent cuts occurred near the Saudi city of Jeddah. The Pakistan Telecommunication Company (PTCL) warned that services in the region may slow down, especially during peak hours.
Earlier in 2024, similar incidents occurred in the Red Sea. Each happened shortly after Yemen’s internationally recognized government warned about the Iran-backed Houthi movement. They anticipated potential sabotage of cables or attacks on shipping lanes. However, the Houthis denied involvement at that time.
Beyond the Middle East, the Baltic Sea has also seen attacks on undersea cables and gas pipelines since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in 2022. Infrastructue sabotage has a growing role in espionage and global conflicts.
Reach of the Outage
According to NetBlocks, a watchdog monitoring internet accessibility, the Red Sea cable cuts have disrupted connectivity. The event impacted India, Pakistan, and the UAE. The incident underscores how localized damage to a single region’s infrastructure can trigger widespread digital disruption across entire continents.
Microsoft quickly rerouted traffic through alternate pathways to minimize downtime. While this mitigates the worst effects, rerouting adds network strain, leading to slower performance and reduced reliability for some users.
Cloud Service Vulnerabilities
The damage incident shines a light on the vulnerabilities of cloud infrastructure. As businesses, governments, and individuals rely heavily on platforms like Microsoft Azure, Amazon Web Services (AWS), and Google Cloud, even minor disruptions can have cascading effects. Financial systems, healthcare networks, and even national security operations depend on these services functioning without interruption.
The outage poses questions about security preparedness and the need for diversified digital infrastructure. With growing geopolitical tensions, undersea cables are targets in current and future conflicts.
TF Summary: What’s Next
Microsoft’s Azure team is working to fully restore network speeds by optimizing traffic rerouting. They are also investigating the root cause of the fibre cuts. Consequently, governments and private companies are likely to increase their investments. The focus is on cybersecurity and physical infrastructure security, especially for undersea cable systems.
This event reinforces the importance of global cooperation and infrastructure diversification. As cloud reliance deepens, safeguarding the digital arteries of the internet is paramount to maintaining a connected world.
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