Oversees, internet users are facing an internet disruption this week. Two undersea internet cables were severed accidently today and the effects will be felt through the Middle East and some providers in India. The United Arab Emirates, Egypt, Kuwait, and Saudi Arabia have all felt the effects of this undersea snafu. In addition, two ISPs in Dubai have been completely disabled and India’s bandwidth has been reduced by half. The cables were severed by what is believed to be a misplaced anchor near Egypt’s port of Alexandria.

Indian ISP VSNL blames their faulty service on the severed cables between Italy and Alexandria. Internet service disruptions have also been reported in Bangladesh and Sri Lanka. Concerns over the effect of this severed cable have hit call centers the hardest. India’s billion dollar IT outsourcing industry that serves the east coast of the United States and the United Kingdom could see a drop in productivity until alternative measures are taken.

International telephone calls may also be affected by the severed cable. Satellite providers are rushing in to help offset this difficult internet issue, so be prepared to be rerouted and expect slower than normal connections in the Middle East and the Indian subcontinent.