Iran has threatened to cut undersea internet cables in the Red Sea and Persian Gulf, which could disrupt global internet connectivity and impact economies worldwide. The cables in question carry around 17% of global internet traffic, including critical data for AI hubs in the UAE and Saudi Arabia backed by tech giants like Amazon, Microsoft, and Google. ¹ ²
*Potential Impact:*
- Disruption of internet services, affecting financial transactions, cloud services, and AI workloads
- Economic consequences for countries reliant on these cables, including India
- Increased latency and congestion in internet traffic ³ ⁴ ⁵
*Vulnerability of Undersea Cables:*
- 99% of international internet traffic passes through submarine cables
- Cables are vulnerable to sabotage, accidents, and natural disasters
- Repairing damaged cables can take months, exacerbating disruptions