Internet disruption: Cable cut in Red Sea slows speed, India among affected countries
New Delhi (The Uttam Hindu): If you are facing the problem of slow internet today, then the reason for this is not in your Wi-Fi, but is hidden in the depths of the Red Sea. The global internet speed has been affected due to the damage of many important optical fiber cables laid under the sea in the Red Sea, which has created panic all over the world. A big conspiracy is being suspected behind this incident, in which the needle of suspicion is turning towards the Houthi rebels of Yemen.
These cables serve as a digital highway between Europe and Asia, through which about 17% of the world's internet traffic passes. Due to their damage, internet users in many countries including India and Pakistan are facing huge problems. Big tech companies like Microsoft have also confirmed that their Azure cloud services have been affected, especially between Asia and Europe. Internet monitoring organization Netblocks has also confirmed this disruption and said that it has also affected the cable system operated by Tata Communications.
At present, the exact reason for the damage to these cables is not completely clear, but experts are refusing to consider it a mere accident. Many analysts believe that this is a deliberate action to disrupt global connectivity, and Yemen's Houthi rebels are at the center of this suspicion. It is believed that these cables have been targeted with the aim of putting pressure on Israel amid the ongoing conflict in Gaza.
The past record of the Houthi rebels also further strengthens this suspicion, as they have carried out missile and drone attacks on more than 100 ships in the Red Sea since November 2023. In addition, in early 2024, the Yemeni government also issued a warning that the Houthi rebels were planning to attack these vital cables, which further increases the possibility of this incident being a well-planned attack.
Although the Houthi rebels had earlier denied such allegations, their own news channel on Sunday morning acknowledged the news of the cables being cut. Currently, data traffic is being diverted to alternate routes, but repairing these damaged cables may take a long time, due to which internet speed is likely to remain affected in the coming days as well.