Microsoft (MS) reported on June 6 (local time) that communication delays occurred in its cloud service, Azure, due to damage to an underwater cable in the Red Sea.
MS posted on its 'Azure status update' site on the afternoon of the same day, Pacific Time, stating, 'Traffic routed through the Middle East from or to Asia or Europe may experience increased latency due to multiple cuts in the underwater fiber-optic cables in the Red Sea.'
It further explained, 'Due to the communication disruption, rerouting through alternative paths may be necessary and could result in delays beyond normal ranges.'
It added, 'Our engineering team is actively managing the outage situation through various capacity and traffic route changes and is exploring alternative capacity options in the region while consulting with suppliers.'
It also noted, 'Restoration of the underwater fiber-optic cable cuts may take time, so we will continue to monitor to minimize the impact on customers and readjust and optimize the routes.'
The company did not disclose the reason for the damage to the underwater cables in the Red Sea. However, experts have indicated a possibility that the actions of the Iran-aligned Houthi armed group in Yemen may be behind it. The Red Sea is a critical communication route that connects Europe, Africa, and Asia.
The social enterprise NetBlocks, which monitors internet access, stated via social media platform X that, 'A series of underwater cable disruptions in the Red Sea have degraded internet connectivity in several countries, including India and Pakistan.'
NetBlocks explained, 'This incident appears to have been caused by disruptions affecting the SMW4 and IMEWE cable systems near Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.' The SMW4 line connects Southeast Asia, the Middle East, and Western Europe, while the IMEWE line connects India, the Middle East, and Western Europe. Tata Communications of India and the France-based Alcatel-Lucent consortium operate them.
Bloomberg reported that Houthi rebels in Yemen are continuing attacks on vessels in the Red Sea, making repairs to the underwater cables difficult.