image sourced from original article at Iran's Revolutionary Guard has warned that undersea data cables running through the Strait of Hormuz are vulnerable to accidental or deliberate damage, raising concerns about widespread internet disruptions. Iranian state media reported that simultaneous damage to several major cables could trigger severe outages across the Persian Gulf, a region that serves as both a critical oil route and a key digital corridor.
The fiber optic cables beneath the strait carry an estimated 17 to 30 percent of regional internet traffic, linking Asia, Europe and the Middle East. They also support major artificial intelligence infrastructure hubs in the United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia, backed by global technology companies. Global financial transactions, cloud services, emails and video calls depend heavily on this underwater network.
Countries including Oman, the United Arab Emirates and Pakistan host landing stations connected to the network, while India's data driven economy relies significantly on these links. Any disruption could slow internet speeds, destabilize digital payment systems and affect information technology and artificial intelligence powered industries. A French cable company has already issued force majeure notices and reported operational disruptions in the region.
