Commercial shipping probably cut the Red Sea cables that disrupt internet access, experts say

Dubai, United Arab Emirates (AP) – A ship probably cut cables into the Red Sea that disrupted the internet access in Africa, Asia and the Middle East, experts said on Tuesday, showing the vulnerability of the lines over a year after another incident broke them. The International Cable Protection Committee told The Associated Press that 15 submarine cables go through the narrow Bab El-Mandeb street, the southern mouth of the Red Sea that separates East Africa from the Arabian Peninsula. Over the weekend, authorities in several countries have identified cables affected as the South East Asia-Middle East-Western Europe 4, the India Mediddle East-Western Europe and the Falcon GCX cables. Doug Madory, director of internet analysis at Kentik firm, also expanded on Tuesday to include the Europe India Gateway cable. Initial reporting suggested that the cuts on the coast of Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, took place, something that the authorities in the kingdom did not recognize, nor the companies that run the cables. It has disrupted internet access in countries in Asia and the Middle East. “Early independent analysis indicates that the likely cause of damage is commercial ship activity in the region,” John Wrottesley, the committee operations manager, told the AP. “Damage to submarine cables of drags are about 30% of the incidents that represent about 60 errors annually.” Madory also told the AP that the working assumption was a commercial vessel, dropped his anchor and dragged it over the four cables and broke the connections. Cables in the Red Sea can be at a level depth, making it easier for an anchor to affect it. Under-Sea cables are one of the backbone of the internet, along with satellite connections and soil-based cables. Typically, Internet service providers have various access points and re -affecting traffic if it fails, although it can delay access for users. However, the revival of traffic can cause latency or delay for internet users. Madory said it appears that at least ten countries in Africa, Asia and the Middle East have been affected by cable cutting. Among the nations were India, Pakistan and the United Arab Emirates. Cable safety was also a concern amid attacks by the Houthi rebels of Yemen on ships over the Israeli-Hamas war in the Gaza Strip. Early in 2024, the internationally recognized government in Exile claimed that the log cabin planned to attack underwater cables. Several later was cut, possibly by a ship attacked by the Houthis dragging his anchor, but the rebels denied that they were responsible.