Cable damage in the Red Sea could be the cause behind Microsoft's reported service interruption.

In March 2024, a significant incident occurred in the Red Sea, affecting multiple telecommunications submarine cables. Hong Kong-based HGC Global Communications and SEACOM, two major players in the industry, reported damage to four crucial cables: AAE-1, Seacom, TGN, and EIG.

The Red Sea, a vital telecommunications route connecting Europe, Africa, and Asia, saw damage to several systems, including the SMW4 and IMEWE systems near Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. This damage is believed to be linked to a cargo ship that sank after an attack by Huthi terrorists in February 2024.

The incident has caused a significant disruption, affecting approximately a quarter of global internet traffic. Traffic between Asia, Europe, and the Middle East may experience delays due to the cable damage.

To mitigate the disruptions, both HGC Global Communications and SEACOM have rerouted data traffic. However, full cable restoration will take time, given the complexity of the situation and the strategic importance of these cables for internet connectivity in the region.

The cause of the cable damage is currently under investigation. Repairing underwater cables in the Red Sea is also complicated by frequent attacks by Yemeni Houthis on vessels.

Microsoft Azure, Microsoft's cloud platform offering app development, deployment, and data storage on servers located in distributed data centers, is also likely to be affected by this incident.

The Red Sea, with its strategic location, serves as a crucial telecommunications route, facilitating the smooth flow of data between continents. The damage to these cables has underscored the importance of maintaining the integrity of these vital infrastructure networks.

As the repair and investigation efforts continue, the global community is closely monitoring the situation, hoping for a swift resolution to restore normal internet traffic flows.