Microsoft: Azure service affected by international cable disruption in the Red Sea.

Arabian Sea Newspaper - Special

Arab Sea - Special: Microsoft has stated that some customers of its "Azure" cloud platform are experiencing increased response times following the disruption of several international cables in the Red Sea, which is one of the world's most important routes for data transmission between Asia and Europe via the Middle East. In an update published on its service status page on Saturday, the company explained that digital traffic passing through the region has been directly affected, forcing its engineering teams to reroute data through alternative paths to minimize the impact of the disruption. Microsoft did not disclose details regarding the cause or manner in which the cables were damaged. The company added: "Repairs to submarine fiber optics may take a long time, so we will continue to monitor the situation and rebalance and optimize routes to minimize the impact on customers in the meantime." It is worth noting that submarine cables represent the backbone of the global internet, as they carry the majority of data traffic between continents. These cables consist of tightly compressed fiber optic lines encased in layers of strong plastic or steel wires. Cutting them can lead to widespread disruptions in communications and digital services. Incidents are often caused by major navigational activities such as dragging ship anchors, while security agencies warn that these cables may also become a potential target for sabotage or attacks in the context of international conflicts. The Red Sea is of particular importance in this context, as it connects Europe to Africa and Asia via Egypt, making it a vital route for digital trade and the global economy.