Internet Disruption Worldwide as Red Sea Cable System Damaged

According to a report from Hong Kong-based telecommunications company HGC Global Communications, four major telecommunication networks experienced significant disruptions due to a “cut” in their cable network, impacting communication networks in the Middle East. HGC estimates that around 25% of the traffic between Asia, Europe, and the Middle East has been affected. The company is rerouting network paths to minimize disruptions for customers and is also extending support to affected businesses. The details of the cable damage and the responsible party behind the incident have not been disclosed by HGC.

The incident occurred a few weeks after Yemen’s government warned of a potential attack on the cable infrastructure by Houthi forces, who had previously disrupted global supply chains by attacking merchant ships in the Red Sea. Additionally, an Israeli news outlet, Globes, accused the Houthi group of sabotaging the cable lines in a report last week. However, Yemeni leader Abdel Malek al-Houthi denied these allegations, stating that they had no intention of targeting the submarine cables that provide internet connectivity to the region.

Among the affected network systems are the Europe-India Gateway (EIG) cable, spanning 15,000 km, connecting Europe, the Middle East, and India. The Asia-Africa-Europe cable system, stretching over 25,000 km and linking Southeast Asia to Europe via Egypt, has also suffered damage.

This disruption in the Red Sea cable system poses significant challenges for global internet connectivity. Efforts are underway to restore the damaged cables and ensure smooth communication networks across affected regions.

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