Damaged cable in Red Sea disrupts Internet service

The damage to submarine cables in the Red Sea has disrupted telecommunications networks, disturbing internet speeds in several countries.

Related companies are forced to shift a quarter of traffic between Asia, Europe and the Middle East, including internet traffic.

The damage to the cables of four different telecom networks is disrupting the communication networks in the Middle East.

Hong Kong-based telecom company ‘HGC Global Communications’ said that around 25 percent of traffic from Asia, Europe and the Middle East was affected, adding that the company said that traffic was being diverted to minimize disruption to customers. The route is being rerouted, while assistants are also being provided to affected businesses.

However, the company has not been able to tell the reasons for the damage to the cables. In a conversation with the global media, the South African company Seacom said that it may take more than one month to repair the cables, while it was said that the reason for taking more time is to obtain a security permit for repairs in this area.

Seacom's Chief Digital Officer Pranesh Pidayashi stated that obtaining a permit from Yemeni Maritime may take eight weeks, but the traffic route will be changed until the cables are repaired.

Other affected networks, on the other hand, include the Asia, Africa, Europe 1,25,000 km (15,534-mi) cable system connecting Southeast Asia to Europe via Egypt. The Europe India Gateway (EIG) has also been affected.

While the EIF connects Europe, the Middle East and India, the company added that it can route Internet traffic to some 80 submarine cable systems, allowing access to 100 countries.