Red Sea Conflict Threatens Key Internet Cables
March 2nd, 2024Via: Wall Street Journal:
Conflict in the Middle East is drawing fresh attention to one of the internet’s deepest vulnerabilities: the Red Sea.
Most internet traffic between Europe and East Asia runs through undersea cables that funnel into the narrow strait at the southern end of the Red Sea. That chokepoint has long posed risks for telecom infrastructure because of its busy ship traffic, which raises the likelihood of an accidental anchor drop striking a cable. Attacks by Iran-backed Houthis in Yemen have made the area more dangerous.
The latest warning sign came Feb. 24, when three submarine internet cables running through the region suddenly dropped service in some of their markets. The cuts weren’t enough to disconnect any country but instantly worsened web service in India, Pakistan and parts of East Africa, said Doug Madory, director of internet analysis at network research firm Kentik.
It wasn’t immediately clear what caused the cutoffs.
