You already know that the Strait of Hormuz controls a large share of the world’s oil. But something else also runs through this narrow passage—global data cables. And if they are cut, it could affect the internet for billions of people.

Around 95% of all international data—video calls, bank transactions, and messages—travels through submarine fiber-optic cables on the ocean floor, not satellites. Many of the key routes between Europe and Asia pass through the Red Sea and the Strait of Hormuz region.

These areas are now under pressure at the same time. This is critical, as roughly 30% of global internet traffic passes through the Red Sea alone. These cables are therefore just as strategic as oil.

The problem is that cables can be damaged by accidents or conflicts, and repairs take time. When a cable goes down, traffic is rerouted, leading to slower internet, delays, and instability.

Several countries—including India and the Gulf states—depend heavily on these routes. If both the Red Sea and the Strait of Hormuz are disrupted at the same time, there is no easy alternative. This is known as a “dual chokepoint” risk and could have global consequences.

In short: the world has long viewed Hormuz as an oil chokepoint—but it is also a data chokepoint. And if the cables are cut, the impact will go far beyond energy markets—it will affect the entire digital world.