Red Sea cable cuts are disrupting internet routes, with Microsoft Azure users facing delays due to rerouting and congestion.
REDMOND: Microsoft has confirmed that multiple undersea fibre optic cables were cut in the Red Sea on September 6 2025, leading to significant internet traffic disruptions across the Middle East, South Asia, and parts of Europe. The company warned that users of Microsoft Azure may face higher latency, especially when data traffic is routed between Asia and Europe.
The damaged cables include some of the most critical systems such as SMW4, IMEWE, and FALCON GCX, which collectively manage a large share of global internet bandwidth. Microsoft has responded by rerouting data traffic to alternative paths, which has caused congestion and service slowdowns in affected regions.
“While connectivity remains available, undersea fibre cuts can take time to repair,” Microsoft said in an official update. “We are monitoring and optimising traffic daily to reduce customer impact.”
Although the company did not confirm the cause of the damage, analysts have speculated possible geopolitical tensions in the Red Sea region. Yemen’s Houthi rebels, previously accused of targeting undersea infrastructure, have denied involvement in this particular incident.
Microsoft said it will continue to issue daily updates and reassess conditions as the situation evolves. Repairing subsea cables typically takes weeks due to the need for specialised vessels and favourable maritime conditions.
This incident underscores the fragility of the global internet backbone and highlights the urgency of investing in resilient infrastructure. Countries like the UAE, India, and Pakistan have reported varying degrees of internet slowdowns since the outage began.
