A submarine cable in the Middle East has been snapped, adding to global net problems caused by breaks in two lines under the Mediterranean on Wednesday.
A submarine cable in the Middle East has been snapped, adding to global net problems caused by breaks in two lines under the Mediterranean on Wednesday.
The Falcon cable, owned by a firm which operates another damaged cable, led to a "critical" telecom breakdown, according to one local official.
The Falcon cable, owned by a firm which operates another damaged cable, led to a "critical" telecom breakdown, according to one local official.
The cause of the latest break has not been confirmed but a repair ship has been deployed, said owner Flag Telecom.
The cause of the latest break has not been confirmed but a repair ship has been deployed, said owner Flag Telecom.
The earlier break disrupted service in Egypt, the Middle East and India.
The earlier break disrupted service in Egypt, the Middle East and India.
"The situation is critical for us in terms of congestion," Omar Sultan, chief executive of Dubai's ISP DU, told The Associated Press, following the most recent break.
"The situation is critical for us in terms of congestion," Omar Sultan, chief executive of Dubai's ISP DU, told The Associated Press, following the most recent break.
Wednesday's incident caused disruption to 70% of the nationwide internet network in Egypt on Wednesday, while India suffered up to 60% disruption.
Wednesday's incident caused disruption to 70% of the nationwide internet network in Egypt on Wednesday, while India suffered up to 60% disruption.
Flag Telecom said a repair ship was expected to arrive at the site of the first break - 8.3km from Alexandria in Egypt - on 5 February, with repair work expected to take a week.
Flag Telecom said a repair ship was expected to arrive at the site of the first break - 8.3km from Alexandria in Egypt - on 5 February, with repair work expected to take a week.
A repair ship deployed to the second break - 56km from Dubai - was expected to arrive at the site in the "next few days", the firm said.
A repair ship deployed to the second break - 56km from Dubai - was expected to arrive at the site in the "next few days", the firm said.
Web returns
Web returns
The first cable - the Fiber-Optic Link Around the Globe (FLAG) - was cut at 0800 on 30 January, the firm said.
The first cable - the Fiber-Optic Link Around the Globe (FLAG) - was cut at 0800 on 30 January, the firm said.
A second cable thought to lie alongside it - SEA-ME-WE 4, or the South East Asia-Middle East-West Europe 4 cable - was also split.
A second cable thought to lie alongside it - SEA-ME-WE 4, or the South East Asia-Middle East-West Europe 4 cable - was also split.
FLAG is a 28,000km (17,400 mile) long submarine communications cable that links Australia and Japan with Europe via India and the Middle East.
FLAG is a 28,000km (17,400 mile) long submarine communications cable that links Australia and Japan with Europe via India and the Middle East.
SEA-ME-WE 4 is a submarine cable linking South East Asia to Europe via the Indian subcontinent and the Middle East.
SEA-ME-WE 4 is a submarine cable linking South East Asia to Europe via the Indian subcontinent and the Middle East.
The two cable cuts meant that the only cable in service connecting Europe to the Middle East via Egypt was the older Sea-M-We 3 system, according to research firm TeleGeography.
The two cable cuts meant that the only cable in service connecting Europe to the Middle East via Egypt was the older Sea-M-We 3 system, according to research firm TeleGeography.
The firm said the cuts reduced the amount of available capacity on the stretch of network between India and Europe by 75% percent.
The firm said the cuts reduced the amount of available capacity on the stretch of network between India and Europe by 75% percent.
As a result, carriers in Egypt and the Middle East re-routed their European traffic around the globe, through South East Asia and across the Pacific and Atlantic oceans.
As a result, carriers in Egypt and the Middle East re-routed their European traffic around the globe, through South East Asia and across the Pacific and Atlantic oceans.
The cause of the break has still not been confirmed. The third break is unlikely to disrupt commerce in the region as many business are closed on Fridays.
The cause of the break has still not been confirmed. Initial reports suggested that it could have been snapped by a ship's anchor.
Initial reports suggested that it could have been snapped by a ship's anchor.
But Egypt's communications ministry said damage to the cables in the Mediterranean was not caused by ships.
The transport ministry said that footage recorded by onshore video cameras of the location of the cables showed no maritime traffic in the area when the cables were damaged.
"The ministry's maritime transport committee reviewed footage covering the period of 12 hours before and 12 hours after the cables were cut and no ships sailed the area," a statement said.
Internet service providers said they expected India's to be back to about 80% of its usual speed by the end of Friday.
Internet service providers said they expected India's to be back to about 80% of its usual speed by the end of Friday.
In Egypt Minister of Communications and Information Technology Tarek Kamil said he expected to be at the same capacity within two days.
In Egypt Minister of Communications and Information Technology Tarek Kamil said he expected to be at the same capacity within two days.
"However, it's not before ten days until the internet service returns to its normal performance," Kamil told the state Al-Ahram newspaper.
"However, it's not before ten days until the internet service returns to its normal performance," Kamil told the state Al-Ahram newspaper.
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