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What if a conflict in the Middle East could slow down parts of India’s internet? Beneath the waters of the Strait of Hormuz runs a vast network of submarine fibre-optic cables that carry most of the world’s internet traffic. These cables connect Asia, Europe and West Asia and handle everything from financial transactions to video calls and cloud computing. A large share of India’s international data traffic passes through routes near this corridor. If tensions or military activity disrupt the region, multiple cable systems could face damage or repair delays. The internet would not shut down completely, but congestion and slower speeds could affect international services. As the global digital economy grows, protecting these underwater data highways has become just as critical as safeguarding energy supply routes.