Microsoft warns that damage to the submarine cables in the Red Sea may increase latency for Azure services for connections to Asia and Europe via the Middle East.

Microsoft has confirmed that the faults in the underwater fiber optic cables are affecting connections from the Middle East to destinations in Asia and Europe. The company is working to minimize the impact on customers by redirecting traffic. Repairing these cables is difficult, and the challenges are amplified by the instability in the region, including attacks by Houthi rebels on ships. The Red Sea, a strategic route for telecommunications, is crucial for global connectivity.