Decreasing internet quality, low speeds, and frequent outages in Afghanistan have created serious problems for a number of users, particularly journalists and others whose daily work depends on the internet. They say that despite paying high costs for internet packages and Wi-Fi services, the quality of these services has declined and, in many cases, no longer meets their needs. Users complain about packages running out early, rising costs, and the lack of effective accountability from telecommunications companies, saying that internet instability has disrupted their work, education, and communication.
Samira (pseudonym), a journalist in Kabul, says the quality of internet service has sharply declined and is accompanied by repeated disconnections and reconnections. She adds: “This problem has created serious difficulties for me, since I work online. Even though I pay the full cost of Wi-Fi every month, because of the constant disruptions, I am forced to use mobile internet at the same time so that my work and reports are not delayed.”
This journalist says: “In addition, the Wi-Fi data volume or credit always runs out earlier than expected, and it is usually no longer usable 10 to 15 days before the renewal date. This situation has led to higher costs, wasted time, and disruption of my professional duties, especially for journalists and others whose daily work and income depend on stable internet.”
Mohammad, another journalist in Kabul, says: “Constant internet outages and reconnections also severely affect the quality and speed of work. In journalism, news must be published in the shortest possible time, but it has happened many times that I have prepared a story for publication, only for the Wi-Fi to cut off at that exact moment, delaying its release.”
This journalist adds: “One of the most important principles of journalism is speed in reporting. If the publication of a news story is delayed, it largely loses its value and impact. It is very important for me to publish news before other media outlets and to provide accurate and timely information to the audience, but weak and unstable internet has repeatedly prevented me from fulfilling this professional responsibility on time.”
Narges (pseudonym), a Kabul resident, says: “Over the past few days, the internet quality was quite good, but today it has gotten a bit worse and is not working properly at all. I cannot allow my work to be delayed, so I also activated a mobile internet package for myself for 800 Afghanis a month. This situation is truly difficult, because I have to pay for Wi-Fi and also keep my phone’s internet active.”
Ghazal (pseudonym), a Herat resident, says: “The price of internet packages is genuinely high, but their quality and speed are very poor. The packages run out earlier than expected even with normal use, and sometimes money is deducted from subscribers’ balances for no clear reason. How much longer must people pay extra costs while receiving poor-quality service? Why does no institution hold the telecommunications companies accountable?”
Avista (pseudonym), a Kabul resident, says: “We use Wi-Fi internet and pay 1,100 Afghanis a month. Overall, since the fall of Afghanistan to the Taliban, internet quality has declined sharply and is no longer satisfactory. Especially when we want to download or upload a video, the internet does not work properly. Before, private companies provided better services, but now they are not allowed to operate. Currently, most internet services are provided to the public by Afghan Telecom. For several months now, private companies have not been permitted to operate. I think some companies whose contracts are still valid continue to operate, but overall, the quality and responsiveness of the companies also vary.” According to her, the contract of the company “Net Zone” has also ended, and the Taliban are not signing new contracts with these companies, though she does not know the reason for this decision.
This Kabul resident says: “I currently use the Roshan telecommunications network for internet, but its speed is very weak and its internet packages are also expensive. A 20 gigabyte package that should be enough for a month does not even provide the equivalent of 10 gigabytes of usable data.”
These concerns come as the Taliban’s Ministry of Communications summoned domestic telecommunications companies on Monday, September 29, 2025, and told them that, based on a verbal order from Hibatullah Akhundzada, the Taliban Supreme Leader, fiber optic internet should be cut off across Afghanistan.
The Taliban’s Ministry of Communications had also announced last year that the cost of one gigabyte of internet, which had previously been 110 Afghanis, had been reduced to 95 Afghanis, and that the cost of calls and messages had also been reduced by up to 50 percent.
You can read the Persian version of this report here:
انترنت در افغانستان؛ هزینههای بلند، کیفیت پایین و کاربران ناراضی
