Microsoft has alerted its clients to “increased latency” issues affecting connectivity, emphasizing that steps are being taken to address the situation.
Published On 7 Sep 2025
Reports of internet disruptions are emerging from the Middle East and South Asia following multiple severed undersea cables in the Red Sea. Microsoft, facing scrutiny for its ties to Israel amidst ongoing conflict in Gaza, issued a statement on the matter.
The details surrounding the cause of these cable cuts were not elaborated upon in the announcement.
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According to a status update on their website, Microsoft reported that “network traffic passing through the Middle East could experience increased latency due to undersea fiber disruptions in the Red Sea.” The company acknowledged that its Azure cloud services, which rank second globally only to Amazon, have been impacted, although they stated that general network traffic remains unaffected.
“Traffic not routed through the Middle East is operating normally. We’ll provide daily updates, or more frequently if developments arise,” the statement read.
The connectivity issues began at 05:45 GMT on September 6.
The internet monitoring service NetBlocks identified “degraded” internet quality in several nations, including Saudi Arabia, Pakistan, the UAE, and India, leading to slower speeds and inconsistent access.
NetBlocks attributed the problems to failures in the SMW4 and IMEWE cable systems near Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.
Pakistan Telecommunications, a major telecom provider in the region, warned customers via a post on X that the country “may experience some degradation during peak hours” and assured that its international partners were actively working to rectify the situation.
Undersea cables form the backbone of global internet connectivity, playing a vital role in linking Asia and Europe. They are susceptible to damage from ship anchors and can also become targets in conflicts, resulting in significant disruptions.
In early 2024, allegations arose from Yemen’s recognized government-in-exile that Houthi forces intended to attack undersea cables in the Red Sea. Some cables were cut, though the Houthis denied accountability.
On Sunday, the Houthis’ Al Masirah TV acknowledged the cuts while referencing NetBlocks.
Investigations led by The Guardian, +972 Magazine, and Local Call revealed that Microsoft’s Azure had been storing data, such as intercepted communications from Palestinians in the occupied West Bank and Gaza for the Israeli military. While Microsoft denied any knowledge of its cloud services being exploited by Israel’s Unit 8200 for mass surveillance, they announced an internal review in August.
Additionally, Microsoft has terminated four employees involved in protests at company locations concerning its affiliations with Israel.