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News India Live, Digital Desk: At present, there is such a digital threat looming over the whole world, which can take us back to the primitive era in a moment. Amidst the increasing tension between Iran and Israel, the ‘undersea cables’ laid under the sea are now under threat, through which data from all over the world is transmitted from one place to another. According to intelligence reports, Iran plans to target fiber optic cables located under the Red Sea and the Strait of Hormuz. If this happens, there may be a blackout of the internet all over the world including India.
Red Sea: The choke point of the internet where the life of the world is stuck
Thousands of kilometers long cable network is laid under the Red Sea and the Persian Gulf. This network connects Asia, Africa and Europe. Global Internet traffic accounts for approximately 17% to 30% Part passes through these sea routes. Iran’s Revolutionary Guards (IRGC) have recently warned that damaging these cables is within their strategic capability. Experts say that this is not just a threat, but a fatal attack that can completely paralyze the global banking, stock market and communication system.
What will be the impact on India? Digital economy will stop
This news is no less than a big shock for India. India’s digital economy and IT sector are completely dependent on these sea cables.
Slow internet speed: If these cables are cut, there will be a huge drop in internet speed in India.
Crisis on Cloud Services and AI: Data centers of Amazon, Google and Microsoft which are located in Gulf countries may lose connectivity.
online payment: Services like UPI and net banking may be disrupted, due to which transactions worth crores will be affected.
Danger from drone attacks and anchorage of ships also
Not only deliberate sabotage, but also the movement of ships during war and drone attacks are at risk to these cables. Recent suspected drone attacks on data centers in Bahrain and UAE have further increased this fear. Major companies such as Alcatel Submarine Networks have already halted their work in this area citing ‘force majeure’ (unforeseen threat). Companies like Meta have also put their upcoming cable projects on hold for the time being.
What is the way to escape? Experts’ increased concern
Defense experts believe that it is impossible to protect these cables under the sea. If any country or organization targets them, it may take weeks or months to fix them. Telecom regulator of India (TRAI) has also instructed telecom companies to keep alternative routes (overland routes) and emergency backup ready. However, there is no immediate and complete replacement for these giant undersea veins.
