Internet access in parts of Asia and the Middle East has been disrupted after undersea cables in the Red Sea were cut, according to experts, who reported on Sunday. The cause of the incident is not yet clear, but there has been speculation about possible attacks. Some suggested that Yemen’s Houthi rebels may have targeted the cables to pressure Israel over the war in Gaza. However, Houthis have denied such claims.

Undersea cables are a key part of the internet, carrying vast amounts of data between countries. Along with satellite connections and land cables, they form the backbone of global internet infrastructure. Typically, internet service providers have multiple connections and can reroute traffic if one line fails; however, disruptions like this can still slow down internet speeds for users.

Microsoft reported that West Asia may experience slower internet due to the Red Sea fibre cuts. The company clarified that traffic not passing through West Asia was not affected. Monitoring group NetBlocks confirmed that multiple countries were affected, including India and Pakistan, and said the issue involved failures in the SMW4 and IMEWE cable systems near Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.

The SMW4 cable, also called the South East Asia-Middle East-Western Europe 4 cable, is run by Tata Communications. The IMEWE cable, connecting India, the Middle East, and Western Europe, is run by a group of companies managed by Alcatel Submarine Networks. Pakistan’s telecom authority confirmed the cuts in a statement on Saturday.

Authorities in Saudi Arabia have not responded to the disruption. In Kuwait, the FALCON GCX cable running through the Red Sea was also cut, affecting the internet in the country. The UAE saw slower internet on state-owned networks Du and Etisalat, though the government did not comment.

Undersea cables can be accidentally damaged, such as by ships dropping anchors, but they can also be intentionally targeted. Repairs take time, often weeks, because specialised ships and crews must locate the damaged section and fix it.