Large cloud companies are paying more for backup routes around the Red Sea

More than 90% of the data transmission capacity between Europe and Asia runs through cables under the Red Sea. They enter the sea through the Bab-el-Mandeb Strait, less than 32 kilometres wide, between Yemen, Djibouti and Eritrea. It is control over this stretch that is being fought over, and large cloud companies have to look for detour routes and pay more for them.

In September the Houthis took the Yemeni side of the strait, including Mayun Island. On 5 October government forces backed by Saudi Arabia said they had retaken key positions near the strait and the port of Mokha. The Houthis denied this.

Overland backup routes

Google and Meta have already sent part of their live traffic along an overland route through Iraq, which until then they had kept in reserve. In September Google bought a pair of fibres along Turkish state pipelines and paid two to three times more than the roughly 6 million euros (7 million dollars) that new lines through Turkey are expected to cost. Such long lines are usually sold for a single upfront payment covering 15 years of use and more, and customers pay for maintenance separately each year.

On 23 September Microsoft said it plans to invest more than 400 million dollars in submarine and overland lines in the Middle East by 2030. On 10 September Iraq signed a contract with the Qatari operator Ooredoo to route data to Europe along an underground route from the southern port of Al-Faw.

How long repairs can take

If a cable in this narrow strait is damaged, repairs can take months: repair ships need permits and security guarantees, industry specialists say. Switching to another submarine cable does not help, because almost all of them pass through the same narrow stretch. In 2024 three cables in the Red Sea were damaged, most likely by the anchor of a drifting cargo ship that a Houthi missile had put out of action; repairs then had to wait months because of permits.

Google and Meta did not respond to Rest of World's requests. For now most of their data continues to travel underwater: submarine routes are much cheaper, so overland options, specialists expect, will remain in reserve until the moment they have to be used.

Legal status in Russia: Meta Platforms Inc.’s activities involving Facebook and Instagram have been designated extremist and prohibited in Russia. According to the Ministry of Justice list, the relevant court decisions do not apply to WhatsApp.

Image: Mysid

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Translation editors: Соловьев В., Пеков А.