Internet in Mideast including Egypt, India cut off

According to Flag Telecom Group Ltd., six ships were diverted from Alexandria port and it's alleged that one may have damaged the cables with its anchor.

Following the disruption of the cables, India and countries across the Middle East had slow Internet connections including problems making international calls to the U.S. and Europe.

Emirates Integrated Telecommunications Co., Flag Telecom and SEA-ME-WE 4, started to work together to determine the damaged cables, a process that may take between 12 to 15 days a to fix the problem.

The damage also affected AT&T customers although there were other reports that showed that Verizon Communication's customers were also affected.

According to a statement broadcasted on Egyptian television, Egypt's Ministry of Telecommunications formed an emergency team to rectify the problem quickly through several alternative paths such as the Suez Canal and satellite links.