While Iran has not officially issued any threats regarding submarine communication infrastructure, speculation has intensified online. Several accounts on X (formerly Twitter) have warned about the possibility of cable damage as geopolitical tensions rise between the United States, Israel, and Iran.
Adding to these concerns, Iran-backed groups—especially Yemen’s Houthi rebels—have previously hinted at targeting fibre optic cables in the Red Sea through their social media channels. Although no direct action has been confirmed, the possibility of deliberate disruption cannot be ruled out amid the ongoing conflict.
Lessons from the September 2025 Incident
The vulnerability of Red Sea cables was highlighted in September 2025, when a commercial vessel reportedly dragged its anchor, accidentally severing multiple undersea fibre optic cables.
According to the International Cable Protection Committee (ICPC), four major cables were impacted:
South East Asia–Middle East–Western Europe 4 (SEA-ME-WE 4)
India-Middle East-Western Europe (IMEWE)
FALCON (GCX)
Europe India Gateway (EIG)
This incident caused widespread internet disruptions across several regions, particularly in West and South Asia. Though services were eventually restored, the event exposed how fragile global connectivity infrastructure can be.
ICPC representative John Wrottesley noted that nearly 30% of cable faults each year are caused by ship anchors, accounting for approximately 60 incidents annually. However, the current geopolitical climate has shifted concerns from accidental damage to the possibility of intentional sabotage.
Why Red Sea Cables Matter
Undersea cables in the Red Sea are among the most critical digital arteries in the world. They carry vast amounts of global data, supporting essential services such as:
Financial transactions
Cloud computing
Video conferencing
Email communication
Artificial intelligence workloads
In fact, nearly 95% of global international data traffic flows through submarine cables, making them indispensable to the modern digital economy.
Potential Impact on India
India is particularly vulnerable to disruptions in the Red Sea region due to its heavy reliance on these cables for international connectivity.
The 2025 incident had already demonstrated this risk, as Indian networks experienced outages and increased latency, even though services did not completely shut down.
Currently, India hosts 17 undersea cables across 14 landing stations located in:
Mumbai
Chennai
Cochin
Tuticorin
Trivandrum
However, internet traffic distribution in the country remains uneven. Approximately two-thirds of India’s data traffic is routed through Mumbai, with the remainder largely handled by Chennai. This concentration creates potential bottlenecks and points of vulnerability.
Any disruption—whether due to conflict, technical failure, or natural disaster—affecting these key hubs could lead to widespread connectivity issues across the country.
A Growing Strategic Concern
With increasing dependence on digital infrastructure, including cloud services, digital payments, and AI-driven technologies, the stakes are higher than ever.
As geopolitical tensions persist in West Asia, the safety of undersea cables in critical zones like the Red Sea and the Strait of Hormuz has become a major global concern. For India and many other nations, ensuring the resilience and redundancy of internet infrastructure will be crucial in mitigating the risks of future disruptions.
