New Delhi: The internet has become a very important part of our daily life. People use it for work, banking, communication and many other activities. But the ongoing war in the Middle East could create problems for internet services. Because of this situation, experts say India might also face internet disruptions in the future.
The Strait of Hormuz area is very important for global trade and digital connections. Many ships carrying oil and other goods to India pass through this route. At the same time, several undersea fibre-optic cables are laid in this region. These cables connect India with other countries and help send huge amounts of data across the world.
Nearly 99% of international internet data travels through submarine cables under the sea. A large share of India’s internet traffic to western countries also moves through the Gulf region. Major cable systems such as SEA-ME-WE 4, I-ME-WE and FLAG cables connect cities like Mumbai and Chennai with Europe and other regions.
Due to the war, repair and maintenance work on these cables has slowed down. One cable near Jeddah was damaged at the end of 2025, but repair work stopped because of the risk of missile and drone attacks. If the damage is not fixed soon, India’s financial systems, data centres and many online services could face problems. If the conflict continues for a long time, internet services in India may also get affected.