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Rabat — Microsoft Azure cloud services slowed down on September 6 after underwater internet cables in the Red Sea broke.
The company informed users they might face slower connections and longer wait times when using Azure services.
According to converging reports, the problems started at 5:45 UTC, when two major cable systems, SMW4 and IMEWE, suffered cuts near Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.
The impacted cables transfer internet traffic between Asia, Europe, and the Middle East, handling about 17% of all global internet traffic passing through this area.
In a swift response, Microsoft moved internet traffic to other routes to minimize the impact on users.
The company said services that don’t go through the Middle East worked normally, reporting that it fixed most problems by Saturday evening, though some users still experienced slower speeds.
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The cable damage affected more than just Microsoft.
NetBlocks, which monitors global internet health, found slower internet speeds in Pakistan, India, and the United Arab Emirates.
Millions of users in these countries had connection problems as internet providers redirected traffic through backup routes.
Microsoft has not commented on the cause of cable cuts, with reports predicting the damage could come from ship anchors dragging on the ocean floor or deliberate actions in the Red Sea area.
Generally, fixing underwater cables takes weeks or months because repair teams need special ships and security permits.
The Red Sea route connects three continents and serves as a critical pathway for global internet traffic, pushing companies like Microsoft to invest heavily in backup routes to maintain services during such outages.
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