With a growing number of people linking their debit cards to smartphones, any failure in the optical fiber network can have serious ramifications.

Alipay, the most popular mobile payment service offered by Alibaba Group Holding Ltd's financial affiliate, suffered a breakdown on Wednesday afternoon due to optical fiber problems.

Zhejiang Ant Small and Micro Financial Services Group Co Ltd, owner of Alipay, said the breakdown was caused after a part of the optical fiber lines in Hangzhou, Zhejiang province, where one of its major data centers is based, was cut.