Major Internet Disruptions in India, Pakistan, and Middle East Linked to Suspected Ship Anchor Damage in Red Sea

Internet users in various countries across Africa, Asia, and the Middle East faced significant disruptions following damage to crucial subsea cable systems in the Red Sea. The observatory NetBlocks verified wide-ranging connectivity issues in India, Pakistan, and the United Arab Emirates, particularly affecting customers of Etisalat and Du. Experts believe that a commercial vessel potentially caused the damage by dragging its anchor across the undersea cables. This incident underscores the vulnerability of global internet infrastructure to maritime activities. The disruptions highlight the need for enhanced protection mechanisms to safeguard critical underwater communication channels. As repairs are underway, affected users may continue to experience service interruptions and slow internet speeds until the damaged cables are fully restored.