Google steers clear of Egypt with new Israel-Saudi fiber connection: Google has begun work on a major new fiber optic network between Israel and Saudi Arabia that will serve as a major new transit for global internet traffic, the Wall Street Journal reports, citing sources familiar with the matter. Codenamed Blue Raman, the line has been strategically placed to lessen reliance on Egypt, which is one of the busiest internet transit points in the world. Most Europe-India lines pass through Egypt, heightening the potential for serious disruption should the cables be damaged.

Operators aren’t enamored with Telecom Egypt’s sky-high fees either: The state-owned company charges operators some of the highest fees in the world for lines that cross its territory, adding up to 50% of the cost of a connection between Europe and India, industry analysts say.