The severed Internet cable in the Persian Gulf was the work of a 5.5-ton ship’s anchor, the AP reports. A crew from the FLAG telecommunications company, which owns the cable, found the anchor near Dubai and hauled it up; how the cut occurred is still unexplained. The incident spawned Internet-usage problems through the Middle East and areas of Asia.
FLAG has not identified the ship that dropped the anchor. The cut has sparked bloggers to question whether intent was involved; authorities have not commented. But some believe the severance calls for tougher cable security. “If ports, railways, gas pipelines and other networks are being secured against possible sabotage,” says an analyst, “we must similarly increase the security of undersea optical highways.” (More Persian Gulf stories.)