It seems that the dangers from the recent Houthi escalation in the Red Sea do not stop at the surface of the water, as a marine communications cable off the coast of Yemen was recently damaged, while telecommunications companies are studying their options to know how to repair it in a war zone.

A submarine cable off the coast of Yemen linking Europe to India has been damaged, and the telecommunications company that owns it must now figure out how to make the necessary repairs underwater, according to a Bloomberg report.

Princh Padayachee, chief digital officer, said last Monday that Seacom Ltd, the South African company that controls the cable, discovered the error on Saturday.

He estimated that the problem lies in waters with a depth of between 150 and 170 meters in an area where the Houthis target ships with drones and missiles.

16 cable systems in the Red Sea

The accident highlights the vulnerability of vital undersea infrastructure, especially in shallow waters that contain a lot of cables, as there are approximately 16 cable systems in the Red Sea, linking Europe to Asia via Egypt

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While Seacom was able to quickly redirect Internet traffic to replacement cables, it now has to figure out the logistics of repairing the cable in a war zone, according to Padayache.

In addition, the company is working with the cable repair company owned by Emirates Telecommunications Group PJSC on a plan that includes how to secure the repair ship and whether it will need military or armed escort.

Padayachi said: “The imminent ceasefire in the region may provide a good opportunity for reform.”

He also added: “It is too early to know whether it is sabotage.”

He continued, "Only when we lift the cable will we be able to know if someone has cut it."

Houthi threats

It is noteworthy that Houthi militants issued threats via social media to sabotage important marine cables, but there is no evidence indicating their success.

The vast majority of cable damage is caused by fishing gear such as trawler nets or anchors being dragged along the sea floor, according to data from the International Cable Protection Commission.

16 main communications cables passing through the Red Sea, through which 17 percent of the world’s Internet traffic passes, were damaged, according to a report published by the “Wired” website, while the map of the “Submarine Cable Map” website shows the presence of 17 main cables.