Threat of Internet Outages from Submarine Cable Blockades

• •Blockades in key sea routes threaten 17-30% of global internet traffic.
• •Cable repairs are suspended due to geopolitical tensions, impacting major projects.
• •Disruptions could lead to severe internet slowdowns and affect critical services.

A potential blockade around the Strait of Hormuz and the Red Sea poses a significant risk to global internet connectivity. Experts warn that dozens of underwater internet cables passing through these routes transmit approximately 17-30% of global internet traffic. Due to the current geopolitical tensions, cable installation and repair operations have been suspended, particularly affecting the Meta/2Africa Pearls project. If these cables are damaged, it could lead to severe disruptions in internet speed and the functionality of banking systems, cloud services, and AI platforms. Repairing such underwater cables typically takes 5-6 months, indicating that disruptions could have both short-term and long-term impacts. The situation highlights the vulnerability of digital infrastructure in conflict zones, necessitating urgent government action to secure these critical assets.