Several residents of Kabul have complained about the poor quality and slow speed of internet services. They say speeds in some areas are so low that even sending a simple message is a struggle. Despite frequent outages and deteriorating quality, internet package costs remain high.
Zainab (pseudonym), a Kabul resident, is among those frustrated by the service. “Our house sits above the main city level, and the internet speed on government SIM cards is so poor that even sending a basic message is a challenge,” she says.
She adds, “Because of the slow speeds, many of us have been forced to buy SIM cards from every available telecom network, hoping to catch a better signal somewhere. But the problems persist. The Taliban have done nothing effective to fix the situation, and rising data package prices have only made things worse. Roshan’s one-gigabyte hourly package, for instance, used to cost 15 Afghanis. It now costs 30.”
She also points to social media restrictions as an added burden. “To access platforms like Facebook and Instagram, we have to use VPNs. A VPN not only slows the connection further, but it burns through your data allowance in no time.”
Hamida, another Kabul resident, says the high cost of the internet has shut her out of opportunities. “After the fall of the previous government and the closure of schools, many of my friends turned to online education. I could not afford to join them. Even now, I only switch on mobile data to check in with friends and family or for something urgent.”
She paints a broader picture of the connectivity crisis facing the city. “People across Afghanistan are dealing with serious problems on both speed and price. The high cost has forced most citizens into minimal, rationed use. Fixed-line internet, the kind installed as Wi-Fi in homes, offers higher speeds and unlimited data and has helped fill some of the gap for households and businesses. But it starts at around 1,000 Afghanis a month, which is out of reach for most families. Only those who are relatively well-off can afford it. And in many parts of the city, fixed-line service is not even available, leaving people stuck with mobile SIM cards that are expensive and still deliver poor quality.”
Madina’s experience with internet failure is the most consequential. “After the fall of the previous government, I went to an internet café to register for several free scholarship programs, since I needed a fast connection. I got through the initial stages and was invited to an online interview. Right in the middle of it, the Wi-Fi cut out. I could not finish the interview and lost the opportunity entirely. Had that not happened, I would probably be finishing a university degree abroad by now.”
Atena (pseudonym), who runs an online business, says poor connectivity is costing her work and income. “Slow internet delays calls, messages, and online meetings. For anyone working online, that means lost orders and missed opportunities. Companies selling through the internet regularly lose customers because of it.” She adds that the weak connection has also restricted access to information and made basic website use increasingly difficult.
“It has undermined our communication and, frankly, our confidence,” she says. “The internet is now an inseparable part of daily life. Without a fast, reliable connection, neither professional progress nor business success is possible.”
Matin (pseudonym), whose livelihood depends on internet access, says the instability takes a constant mental toll. “When the connection is weak, you cannot focus. You spend the whole day bracing for the next dropout or slowdown. Our work requires high-speed internet, but last night an online training session fell apart because of the poor signal.”
He says the problem has directly reduced his income. “In the age of technology, our biggest obstacle is weak internet. With low speeds, we cannot communicate properly with teammates or clients. I hope this gets fixed so we can focus on the work itself, rather than fighting the connection.”
Wahid (pseudonym), an employee at an internet service company, offers a technical explanation. “Free frequencies in Kabul’s airspace can interfere with internet quality and speed, and in some cases cause instability or slowdowns,” he says.
Bahrouz (pseudonym), a money changer in Kabul, is equally critical of both the poor service and the cost. “Internet in Afghanistan is very weak, and despite that, prices stay high. To activate 50 gigabytes, you are looking at no less than 2,000 Afghanis, and the speeds are still slow,” he says.
He claims to have access to Starlink, though according to the company’s official coverage map, Afghanistan is among the countries where the service has not been formally launched and holds no operating license.
Unofficial reports, however, indicate that some people in Afghanistan have used Starlink equipment through roaming plans registered in other countries. This type of use has not been officially confirmed.
Bahrouz adds a note of concern: “The Taliban have banned Starlink. If someone is caught using it, they face a fine.”
This comes after several Kabul residents, in earlier interviews with the Hasht-e Subh Daily, reported a decline in fiber optic internet quality across the city. They said persistent outages and service disruptions in recent months had interfered with their daily routines. Since the Taliban took control, they noted, accessing stable and fast internet has become increasingly difficult, and the quality on offer is no longer acceptable given what people are paying.
You can read the Persian version of this report here:
کندی انترنت در کابل؛ فرصتهای آموزشی از دست میروند و کسبوکارها زیان میبینند
