Recently, tensions in the Red Sea region have intensified, and at least four Asia-Europe communication cables have been cut off in the Red Sea, resulting in serious data transmission between Asia and Europe. According to reports, the damage to the cable affected 25% of the data traffic between Asia and Europe. Damaged cables include Asia-Africa-Europe 1, TGN-C, AAE-1 and EIG cables. These cables are essential to the smooth flow of the global internet, and many Internet giants such as Google, Microsoft, Amazon, and Meta have funded these cables.
At present, the specific cause of the damage to the cable is not clear. Although there were previous accusations in Israel of sabotaging the cables, the Houthis denied the accusation and countered that the British and American teams could be saboteurs. In addition, some analysts believe that the Houthis may not be able to sabotage the Red Sea submarine cable. At the moment, there is no definitive evidence of who is behind the scenes**.
This damage to the cable not only affected communications, but also posed a threat to the ecological environment of the Red Sea. For example, the sinking of the British freighter Rubimar after a Houthi missile strike in the Bab el-Mandeb Strait last month wreaked havoc on the Red Sea's ecology with fertilizer and fuel oil, potentially causing algae blooms and destroying coral reefs and biodiversity.
Since the Red Sea is one of the three most important cable junctions in the world, accounting for 17% of the world's Internet traffic transmitted through the Red Sea's underwater fiber optic cables, the impact of this cable damage on the global Internet cannot be ignored. It is reported that it may take up to a month to repair the cables, but the repair work may be delayed due to the need to apply for permits from Yemen** and the Houthis.
This incident once again highlights the fragility of global communication networks and the impact of regional conflicts on international security. At the same time, it is also a reminder of the need for the international community to work together to protect critical infrastructure and ensure the stability and security of global communication networks.
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