Hormuz Tensions Spark Fears of Global Data Disruption

Not only oil or liquefied gas—around 37 percent of global data traffic passes through submarine cables such as Falcon, SEA-ME-WE-4, IME-WE, and the Europe Persia Express Gateway. These cables connect cities across South Asia, including Mumbai and Chennai in India, to the global internet network. As a result, amid the Iran–Israel–United States conflict, concerns have emerged that a closure of the Strait of Hormuz could impact global internet connectivity. This raises the question: could Bangladesh be affected?

In seeking an answer, it has been found that the primary cables used by Bangladesh’s internet service providers do not pass directly through the Strait of Hormuz, often referred to as a digital checkpoint. Bangladesh’s international data traffic mainly flows through the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden. Therefore, industry insiders have confirmed that any disruption in the Strait of Hormuz is unlikely to create a major immediate obstacle to the country’s internet system.

On the matter, Ariful Haque, Deputy General Manager of Submarine Cables Limited PLC, said that Bangladesh primarily depends on SEA-ME-WE-4 and SEA-ME-WE-5. As these cables do not pass directly through Hormuz, there is little likelihood of the country’s internet connectivity being severed even if the strait is closed.

However, experts warn that the Iran–Israel–United Kingdom conflict could affect not only internet connectivity but also data centers and cloud businesses. They note that the region serves as a critical hub for global internet infrastructure, and prolonged disruption could have both direct and indirect impacts on digital communication systems.

Commenting on the issue, technologist Suman Ahmed Sabir said that if submarine cables in the Strait of Hormuz or the Arabian Sea are damaged due to the conflict, Bangladesh’s telecommunication capacity with Middle Eastern and European countries would decline, leading to a deterioration in service quality.

DBTech/MAR/EK/OR