Afghans Voice Frustration Over Poor Internet Services and High Prices

A number of Afghan citizens are expressing their dissatisfaction with the poor quality and high prices of internet services. They say that frequent connectivity issues have created significant challenges in their daily lives.

Complaints About Internet Services in Afghanistan

Internet has become a fundamental necessity in modern life; however, many citizens in Afghanistan are voicing complaints about slow speeds, constant disruptions, and inflated prices. Marsal, a resident of Kabul, shared that despite the high costs, she receives subpar internet that hampers her ability to communicate with friends abroad.

She added, “The quality of internet is very poor and it disconnects multiple times during calls. Due to unemployment, managing to pay for internet activation has become a challenge, yet companies provide services of low quality at high prices.”

Impact of Internet Issues on Online Education

Ismail, a resident of Nangarhar who is studying online at a university in Turkey, stated that the poor internet quality is hindering his academic progress. He remarked, “I am currently pursuing a master’s degree online, but the quality of the internet is preventing me from fully accessing my studies.”

Lack of Response from the Ministry of Telecommunications

While these issues are not new, the Taliban’s Ministry of Telecommunications and Information Technology has yet to respond to the concerns of internet users. The ministry had previously announced a reduction in the price of one gigabyte of internet; however, users still encounter dissatisfaction with the service quality.

A Nangarhar user further mentioned that the internet marketed as 4G is even slower than 2G. He commented, “The quality of these services is absolutely unacceptable.”

Current State of Internet Services

The challenges of internet quality and pricing have persisted since the previous government, but no substantial measures have been taken to address them. Six telecommunications companies operate in Afghanistan, with the monthly price for one gigabyte of internet ranging from 92 to 95 Afghanis, which remains a significant expense for many low-income individuals.