Red Sea Cable Cuts Slow Internet Speeds Across the Region

On Sunday, several undersea internet cables in the Red Sea were damaged, causing slower connections across parts of the Middle East and South Asia. Microsoft confirmed the issue, though the cause of the damage has not yet been shared.

Microsoft said its Azure cloud services experienced delays, particularly for traffic moving between the Middle East, Asia, and Europe. The company described it as a “service degradation” and quickly rerouted traffic to keep services online.

Affected Countries

The watchdog group NetBlocks reported reduced speeds in countries including:

• Saudi Arabia

• Pakistan

• United Arab Emirates

• India

Users noticed slower browsing and occasional interruptions, but connectivity never fully went down.

Jordan’s Position

Jordan, with its strategic location on the Red Sea and its growing role as a digital hub, has been working to strengthen its internet infrastructure. The country’s steady connectivity during global disruptions shows the importance of regional resilience projects Jordan is part of.

Undersea fiber cables are the backbone of the global internet, carrying nearly all international data. The recent incident highlights how vital the Red Sea corridor is for connecting the Middle East with the rest of the world.

Tech companies like Microsoft and Meta continue to invest in building stronger, more resilient networks. These efforts aim to protect countries in the region, including Jordan, from future disruptions!

Source: Roya News