The Internet didn't invent conspiracy theories, but it has given them a more powerful voice and the ability to go global in hours if not minutes. When the first speculation surrounding cuts in two undersea fiber optic cables connecting India to Europe ran to thoughts of sabotage, paranoia seemed to be in full flower.

But when two more undersea cables in the Middle East region were also cut, it became much harder to summarily dismiss concerns that someone was deliberately disrupting Internet traffic in the region. Indeed, Internet access in a number of countries -- India, Pakistan, Bahrain, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Qatar, Sudan, Egypt and the United Arab Emirates -- was disrupted. Much of the business Internet use in that region wasn't as seriously affected because of landline and satellite backup plans, but this is a serious disruption nonetheless.

It also clearly illustrates how vulnerable the global Internet is and, by extension, the global economy.

What is of greatest concern is that no one knows exactly what happened to any of the four cables. For understandable reasons, the focus has been on rapid repair. But there also needs to be a serious investigation of whether these cable cuts represent sabotage. Officials from Eygpt, in whose waters the first two cuts occurred, have reviewed videotape that they say proves the cable cuts weren't done by ocean-going ships, dragging an anchor chain. Beyond there, there is no certainty.

Undersea cables will continue to play a major role in the global Internet, but the telecommunications community will probably have to do more to protect them and to provide backup options that are more pervasive and available. This needs to be an industry-wide effort to address an industry-wide problem.

E-mail me at cwilson3@telephonyonline.com.