Microsoft announces an internet disruption due to cut cables in the Red Sea

Microsoft announced that a number of international undersea cables passing through the Red Sea have been cut, which may lead to partial outages or slow internet browsing for some users of its cloud platform "Azure" (Azure), especially in the Middle East.

Microsoft, the second largest provider of cloud computing services in the world after Amazon Web Services (AWS), stated in a statement published on its official website that the cable cuts have affected data traffic between Asia and Europe, via its vital route in the Middle East.

Despite this, the company confirmed that its engineering teams are working around the clock to reroute traffic through alternative paths to minimize the impact of the disruption, noting that Azure services have not stopped but continued to operate over the network thanks to the resilient infrastructure.

Microsoft did not disclose the direct cause of the cable cuts or the nature of the damage incurred.

The Red Sea is one of the most important global corridors for marine communications, as it hosts fiber optic cables that connect the continents of Europe, Africa, and Asia, passing through Egypt, making it a strategic point in the global digital infrastructure.

The disruption highlights once again the fragility of global communication networks and the increasing reliance of the world on marine infrastructure for internet and digital services.