Afghanistan Faces Nationwide Telecom Blackout

Afghanistan experienced a widespread telecommunications outage on Monday, weeks after Taliban authorities blocked fibre-optic internet in several provinces in what they claimed was an effort to curb immorality.

Agence France-Presse reported losing mobile contact with its Kabul bureau around 6:15 pm local time, as well as with its correspondents in Herat and Kandahar. NetBlocks, a cybersecurity and internet governance watchdog, confirmed that a nationwide communications blackout had begun, noting that connectivity had dropped to just 14 percent of normal levels. The group said the incident was consistent with a deliberate shutdown.

Much of Afghanistan’s phone service relies on fibre-optic lines, meaning restrictions on internet infrastructure have a direct impact on both mobile and landline networks. NetBlocks told AFP that shutting down fibre services would inevitably disrupt mobile and fixed-line communication.

The Taliban began enforcing regional fibre-optic bans earlier this month. On 16 September, officials in Balkh province announced a full disconnection of the network under orders from Taliban supreme leader Hibatullah Akhundzada, citing the need to combat vice. Similar restrictions were reported in Badakhshan, Takhar, Kandahar, Helmand, Nangarhar, and Uruzgan. Over recent weeks, users have faced extremely slow and unstable internet connections.

The blackout has sparked concern about essential services that depend on stable, high-speed internet. Government operations such as banking, passport issuance, customs clearance, and identity documentation are all reliant on connectivity. 

Afghan broadcaster Tolo News reported that the outage was also affecting its television and radio broadcasts. 

Further downgrades of mobile networks from 4G to 2G are expected, with international callers unable to reach Afghan mobile numbers.

In 2024, Kabul described the 9,350 kilometers of fibre-optic cable laid under previous administrations as a national priority for reducing poverty and reconnecting Afghanistan with the global economy. 

Since regaining power in 2021, however, the Taliban have enforced laws rooted in a strict interpretation of Islamic principles, and officials have repeatedly cited concerns about access to explicit content as justification for restricting internet services.

NetBlocks reported that connectivity was shut down in stages, concluding that Afghanistan is now experiencing a near-total internet blackout as Taliban authorities enforce new moral regulations.