Microsoft Azure Reports Increased Network Latency Due to Undersea Cable Damage

Microsoft Azure has recently reported increased network latency affecting traffic routed through the Middle East, following undersea fiber cuts in the Red Sea.

Yesterday, September 6 at 05:45 UTC, they identified disruptions caused by damage to undersea fiber-optic cables in the region. These cables form a significant portion of the global internet backbone, connecting major regions such as Europe and Asia.

To maintain availability, network traffic has been rerouted along alternate paths. Connectivity remains intact, but users may experience higher latency than usual on traffic that would normally traverse Middle Eastern routes.

Customers with Azure traffic previously routed through the Middle East are most likely to see performance impacts. Latency increases are expected until repairs to the affected undersea cables are complete.

Updates will be shared daily, or sooner if conditions change.

For ongoing updates on this issue, visit the official Azure Status Page.