Afghan Users Complain of High Internet Costs and Frequent Service Disruptions
DID Press: Poor service quality, frequent interruptions and relatively high internet costs have once again become major concerns for internet users in Afghanistan, with residents complaining that the quality of connectivity often does not match the prices they pay.
Afghan media reports say some monthly packages cost around 92 to 95 afghanis for 1GB of data. Afghan Telecom’s published tariff, for example, lists a 1GB monthly package at 92 afghanis, while Afghanistan’s Ministry of Communications and Information Technology has set a 95-afghani ceiling for a monthly 1GB package.
Although the per-gigabyte cost generally falls with larger packages, many low-income users cannot afford to purchase large data bundles at once and instead rely on one- or several-gigabyte packages.
The complaints come as internet access has become increasingly important to daily life in Afghanistan, including online education, employment, communication with family members and access to digital services.
For students, unreliable connectivity can be particularly disruptive. With access to education and international travel becoming more difficult for many Afghans since the Taliban returned to power, some students have increasingly turned to online courses and distance learning.
Service quality remains a concern
Users have also complained about slow speeds and repeated interruptions. A July 2026 report by Hasht-e Subh quoted Kabul residents as saying internet prices remained high and service quality had not improved despite a deadline set for telecom companies to reduce prices and improve services.
The problem has also been linked to infrastructure. In August, Afghanistan International reported that the Taliban-controlled Communications Ministry had ordered Afghan Telecom and several private companies to suspend fibre-optic expansion, repairs and related infrastructure work until further notice.
Officially, Afghanistan has a much larger telecommunications and internet-provider market than the six mobile operators cited in some reports. The Ministry of Communications and IT currently lists 63 licensed internet service providers, while the country’s mobile operators include Afghan Wireless, Etisalat, Roshan, Salaam and Afghan Telecom.
The Afghanistan Telecom Regulatory Authority has also encouraged users to report complaints about telecommunications and internet services, saying it follows up on violations under existing regulations.
For many Afghans, however, the combination of high prices, limited purchasing power and unreliable connectivity continues to make internet access a significant financial and practical challenge.