CNN reported the Internet failure had hit many businesses in the affected regions, including India's extensive outsourced communication system and the Middle East.

The undersea cable break may have occurred in the Mediterranean, the report said. But what caused the break or how long it would take to restore full service was not clear.

VNUNET.COM reported up to 70 percent of the network in Egypt and 60 percent in India had been affected by the disruption, adding it might take a week to repair the problem.

KUNA quoted the Kuwait communications ministry as saying the problem could take days to resolve.

Gulf Daily News quoted VSNL ISP in India as saying service had been "largely restored" by rerouting through another cable.

The breakdown also affected television and telephone services in some places such as the United Arab Emirates, CNN reported. It quoted a government group and sources that air travel services in the Middle East and ground handling at Dubai International Airport were facing problems.