Cable cut slows down Internet in UAE

An Emirati phone company is warning customers they could face slower Internet connections after two underwater communications cables were cut.

Dubai-based Emirates Integrated Telecommunications Co., better known as Du, said on Monday the cuts happened on the SMW3 cable near Suez, Egypt, and on the i2i cable, which links southern India and Singapore.

Du says it is rerouting traffic over other lines while repairs are under way, but says users may still face slower Internet speeds. No timeline for full repairs was given.

Previous cable cuts have been blamed on errant ships' anchors. Serious undersea cable cuts caused widespread Internet outages and disruptions across the Middle East on two separate occasions in 2008.

There were no immediate reports of Internet outages linked to Sunday's cuts.