Yemenite political disputes disrupt the restoration of a damaged internet cable in the Red Sea

The extensive reforms of three Naval Internet cables, which were affected in the Red Sea last February, faced the differences about the party entitled to use the infrastructure in Yemenite waters. The Yemenite government granted permits to reform two of three cables, but he refused to grant a permit to the third cable because of a dispute with a member of the coalition responsible for the cable administration. Cables “Seacom” and “EIG”, but the coalition that runs the cable “AAE-1”, which includes the telecommunications company “Telemen”, did not obtain a statement from the internationally recognized Yemenite government, according to the documents seen by “Bloomberg”. It is noteworthy that three cables from more than ten cables go through the Red Sea, an important road connecting the internet infrastructure in Europe with Asia, was damaged by the ‘Rubimar’ ship flooding the hout at the end of February. Red Sea infrastructure weakness, despite the redirection of the communication data moving through the damaged cables, emphasized the accident the poorly important infrastructure under the sea, and the challenges facing the repairs in the conflict area. The third conflict is due to the division of the rights of political control over the company “Teleman”, as the only provider of telecommunications in the country, reflecting the broader geopolitical divisions in the country. The company has two branches, one in Aden under the control of the internationally recognized Yemenite government, and the other in Sanaa under the control of the Houthi group. The Yemenite government refused to work with the Houthi-related part of the “Teleman” business related to the coalition that runs the cable “AAE-1”, and according to the documents trying to appoint a representative of the Aden branch. However, the coalition did not agree to the alternative actor, and the Yemenitic government, according to the documents, refused to grant the statement. E-marine, which is attached to the UAE-based “Etisalat” group in Abu Dhabi, has been contracted to implement reforms. Teleman requests a guarantee that the third cable has not been repaired. The Tellen branch in Aden, which is attached to the Yemenite government, addressed the Yemenite Ministry of Communications with a message in which I-Marin asks a 10 million pound bank guarantee ($ 12.5 million) to ensure that no reforms are made on the “AAE-1” cable when the company is repaired. According to the documents, the ministry initially approved this condition, but the Yemenite Cabinet decided it was not necessary, according to a senior government official Bloomberg said. E-Marin did not immediately respond to a request for comment. The Houthi Ministry of Communications did not immediately respond to a request for comment. It is not clear whether the Houthi’s, an Iranian-supported militia that controls a large part of the Red Sea coast in Yemen, including the “Hdeidah” ​​main port, will give a statement to “e-marin” to reform the cables. The Houthi group, which has been attacking ships in the area with drones and missiles for months, has previously said that it has only the authority to grant the reform statement. The reform ships are expected to take about a week to reach the cables, and then almost two days to repair each cable, according to Brenish Badawache of Seacom Ltd. The cables will be raised to the surface, and a new cable will be linked to replace the damaged parts. The reform staff will also evaluate the ‘Rubimar’ ship that flooded the Houthi’s and suggested that its sensors cut the cables in February. Badayatchi said Sikum raises indicate that the ship is currently about one kilometer from its cable, and it seems to be stable on the spot. He added: “But we don’t want repairs, and then this ship clashes with the new cables. On all possibilities, it must be transferred from the place.” The three damaged cables are responsible for the flow of about 25% of data in the region, according to HGC Global Communications, based in Hong Kong, which uses the cables.