On Tuesday, four undersea telecommunications cables in the Red Sea were cut, disrupting 25 percent of data traffic between Asia and Europe. The cut cables include Seacom, TGN-Gulf, Asia-Africa-Europe 1, and Europe India Gateway, with officials investigating whether they were sabotaged or damaged by an anchor. Undersea cables are crucial for global communication, with 17 percent of all international internet data traffic passing through the Red Sea cables.
Owned mostly by private companies, undersea cables are vital for telecommunication signals traveling at nearly the speed of light. Damage to these cables can lead to disruptions in global communication, affecting multiple regions. The recent incident has raised concerns about potential threats to undersea cables, with the Houthis denying responsibility for the cuts.
While damaged cables have historically led to interruptions in internet service, most impacted companies have alternative routes for rerouting traffic. The Houthis have previously shown hostility towards Israel-linked vessels in the Red Sea, raising suspicions about their involvement in the cable cuts. With 380 cables spanning over 1.2 million km around the world, undersea cables are essential for maintaining global connectivity.
As investigations continue into the cause of the cable cuts in the Red Sea, concerns remain about the vulnerability of undersea infrastructure to deliberate disruptions. With the proliferation of technology, non-state actors like the Houthis may have the capability to cause significant damage to undersea cables, impacting global communication networks. Security measures to safeguard undersea cables against potential threats are essential to ensure the uninterrupted flow of data and communication worldwide.
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