Cloudflare Q1 2026 Internet Disruptions Report highlights government-directed shutdowns, infrastructure-related outages, and environmental impacts affecting connectivity worldwide.
Cloudflare releases its Q1 2026 Internet Disruptions Report, which highlights a renewed rise in government-imposed internet shutdowns. The report also points to growing vulnerability in digital infrastructure, particularly in conflict-affected regions and continued exposure to environmental and technical risks across MEA.
The findings underscore the growing strategic importance of Internet connectivity in the region, not only as critical infrastructure for economic growth, but also as a lever in political, security, and social contexts.
Q1 2026 Internet Disruptions Report: High-Level Key Findings
- Government shutdowns return: Countries including Uganda, Iran, and the Republic of Congo imposed widespread disruptions, reversing last quarter’s decline and underscoring the Internet’s role as a tool of political control.
- Election-linked shutdowns continue to occur: In the Republic of Congo, Internet traffic dropped to near zero for ~60 hours during the presidential election. The impact mirrored similar disruptions in past election cycles, reinforcing how connectivity is routinely restricted during critical political moments.
- Cloud infrastructure disruptions: Damages to data centers in the Middle East, increasing connection failures and introducing new risks for globally distributed applications.
- Extreme weather and cable damage persist as key risks: Storms, submarine cable incidents, and technical failures continue to expose weak points, causing damage and power outages in Portugal, the Republic of Congo, and Orange Guinée (Guinea).
Looking Ahead
As digital transformation accelerates across MEA, ensuring reliable, secure, and open Internet access will be critical to sustaining economic growth and innovation. Governments, enterprises, and service providers must prioritize resilience strategies to mitigate the growing range of disruption risks.
About the Report
This release by Cloudflare is based on global Internet disruption trends observed during Q1 2026, including government-directed shutdowns, infrastructure-related outages, and environmental impacts affecting connectivity worldwide.
Detailed information on the Q1 2026 Internet Disruptions Report available in the blog here.
