Microsoft Azure Disruptions Hit Global Internet Traffic After Red Sea Cable Cuts

Microsoft's Azure cloud platform suffered significant service disruptions after multiple undersea fiber optic cables in the Red Sea were severed. The incident impacted up to 17% of global internet traffic, causing slower connections and higher latency for users across Asia, Europe, and the Middle East.

The company confirmed the fiber cuts in a critical maritime chokepoint for international communications. Microsoft engineers rerouted traffic through alternate pathways to maintain service stability, but performance degradation persisted for several hours. The disruption highlights the fragility of global digital infrastructure.

Market reaction was immediate, with MSFT shares dropping 2.55% to $495 following the news. The incident occurred amid geopolitical tensions in the region, with Yemen's Ansar Allah group having previously threatened such actions.