Dubai: A fiber cable that runs through the Red Sea has broken, causing internet disruptions across the world.
Net Blocks, which monitors internet connectivity, said users in India, Pakistan and parts of the Middle East have been facing disruptions due to damage to the cable system.
The company said the problem was detected in the SMW4 and IMEWE cable systems near Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.
While India’s Tata Communications manages the Southeast Asia-Middle East-Western Europe 4 (SMW4), the Alcatel-Lucent-led consortium manages the India-Middle East-Western Europe (IMEWE) cable.
The exact reason for the fiber cables to break is not yet known. Natural events, in rare cases, and intentional acts can cause a cable to break. Sometimes, the anchor can also break due to drag. When a ship anchors, an anchor with a heavy metal chain is dropped into the sea. If it is not properly secured to the ground, the anchor can move when the ship moves. When it moves, the cable can get caught in the anchor placed in the depths of the sea and break.
Yemen's Houthi rebels had warned that they would cut the cable that has gone into the sea if Israel's attacks on Palestine were not stopped. There is now suspicion that the Houthi rebels were involved in this act.
Where is the Red Sea Route?
The Red Sea Route is the trade link between Europe and Asia. Ships from Europe via the Mediterranean Sea enter the Red Sea via the Suez Canal, then enter the Arabian Sea via the Bab el-Mandeb choke point near Yemen, bound for Asia. An estimated 385 cargo ships travel this route every day.