In a rare occurrence, internet service has been disrupted across large sections of Asia, Europe, and the Middle East due to damages to undersea cables belonging to major providers in the regions. Hong Kong telecom HGC Global Communications has reported that up to 25% of the traffic in these areas has been impacted.

HGC is currently taking steps to reroute traffic in order to minimize disruptions and has offered assistance to affected businesses. The company has also highlighted the exceptional rarity of having four undersea internet cables damaged simultaneously, particularly in the Red Sea where there are more than 15 such cables.

While no country has been completely disconnected from the internet, the Wall Street Journal has reported noticeable service degradation in India, Pakistan, and parts of East Africa. The cause behind the cable cuts remains unknown, and no services have provided any explanation thus far.

Speculation arose that Yemen may have been responsible for the failures, as it has been involved in ongoing conflicts in the region. However, Yemen's telecom ministry swiftly denied these claims, stating its commitment to keeping all telecom submarine cables safe from potential risks.

Underwater cables handle the majority of the internet's data traffic due to their cost-effectiveness compared to land-based alternatives. However, they are susceptible to damage from ships' anchors, making them vulnerable to disruption.

The timing and severity of this outage have raised concerns among experts, given the ongoing conflict in the Middle East. Iran-based Houthi, known for their aggression in the Red Sea, has recently been involved in an attack on a cargo ship, which ultimately sank after being abandoned by its crew. The presence of Houthi control and the continuing strife in Yemen further complicates the repair process for the damaged cables.

One of the affected companies has expressed its intention to begin the repair process in early second quarter. However, potential hurdles such as permit issues, adverse weather conditions, and the ongoing civil war in Yemen could potentially impact this timeline.

As internet disruptions continue to affect businesses and individuals in Asia, Europe, and the Middle East, efforts will be focused on restoring the undersea cables as quickly and efficiently as possible to ensure the smooth flow of internet traffic in the affected regions.