Microsoft Azure Disrupted by Red Sea Cable Cuts

Microsoft confirmed that its Azure cloud services, one of the world’s largest cloud computing platforms, faced disruptions after multiple undersea cables in the Red Sea were cut.

The company said internet traffic that normally passes through the Middle East was rerouted, leading to increased latency for users in several regions.

Reports from NetBlocks and local telecom operators pointed to connectivity issues in the UAE, India, and Pakistan, particularly during peak hours. Undersea cables, which transmit up to 95% of global data, are often described as the backbone of the internet.

They can be damaged accidentally, most often by ship anchors, but have also been deliberately targeted in suspected sabotage incidents. Similar cuts in the Red Sea in 2024 had already raised concerns, following warnings that Yemen’s Houthi movement might threaten maritime and communications infrastructure.

Globally, other regions like the Baltic Sea have also reported unexplained damage to cables and pipelines since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, fueling debate about the vulnerability of undersea infrastructure.

Microsoft stressed that services outside the Middle East were not affected.