Asia and Mideast Internet disrupted by cut cable
An undersea cable near Egypt in the Mediterranean was cut today, disrupting Internet access for millions: The main damage through is to the four submarine cables running across the Mediterranean and through the Suez Canal. It is thought that 65% of traffic to India was down, while services to Singapore, Malaysia, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Taiwan ...
An undersea cable near Egypt in the Mediterranean was cut today, disrupting Internet access for millions:
An undersea cable near Egypt in the Mediterranean was cut today, disrupting Internet access for millions:
The main damage through is to the four submarine cables running across the Mediterranean and through the Suez Canal.
It is thought that 65% of traffic to India was down, while services to Singapore, Malaysia, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Taiwan and Pakistan have also been severely affected.
The cause of the cut is unknown though there was some seismic activity recorded near Malta. This certainly seems like a pretty serious story:
Jonathan Wright – director of wholesale products at Interoute which manages part of the optical fibre network – told the BBC that the effects of the break would be felt for many days.
"This will grind economies to a halt for a short space of time," he said "If you look at, say, local financial markets who trade with European and US markets, the speed at which they get live data will be compromised." […]
"We’ve lost three out of four lines. If the fourth cable breaks, we’re looking at a total blackout in the Middle East," said Mr Wright.
"These three circuits account for 90% of the traffic and we’re going to see more international phone calls dropping and a huge degradation in the quality of local internet,"
If financial transactions as far away as Singapore were really blocked by a minor undersea earthquake near Malta, it’s a pretty sobering reminder of the fragile physical ties that make our virtual world possible.
Joshua Keating was an associate editor at Foreign Policy. Twitter: @joshuakeating
More from Foreign Policy
Can Russia Get Used to Being China’s Little Brother?
The power dynamic between Beijing and Moscow has switched dramatically.
Xi and Putin Have the Most Consequential Undeclared Alliance in the World
It’s become more important than Washington’s official alliances today.
It’s a New Great Game. Again.
Across Central Asia, Russia’s brand is tainted by Ukraine, China’s got challenges, and Washington senses another opening.
Iraqi Kurdistan’s House of Cards Is Collapsing
The region once seemed a bright spot in the disorder unleashed by U.S. regime change. Today, things look bleak.
Sign up for Morning Brief
Foreign Policy’s flagship daily newsletter with what’s coming up around the world today. Delivered weekdays.
By submitting your email, you agree to the Privacy Policy and Terms of Use and to receive email correspondence from us. You may opt out at any time.
