Afghanistan Hit by 'National-Level' Internet Blackout

On September 29, the supply of mobile phone communication and the internet was almost completely cut off in Afghanistan. This was reported by the internet monitoring organization NetBlocks, describing the situation as a "national-level blackout."

According to NetBlocks, the massive communication outage occurred at 8 a.m. local time, reducing internet access in the country to 14% of its usual level. The communication failure occurred as the Taliban administration was preparing to celebrate the "victory day" of their coming to power, for which parades and other events were planned.

The official reason for the shutdown has not yet been reported. Officials and the country's major telecommunications companies—Roshan, Afghan Wireless, Etisalat, and MTN—have not yet commented on the situation.

The communication shutdown has become a major challenge for millions of Afghans who relied on mobile communication and the internet to stay in touch with family members, conduct business, and receive information. Afghanistan, being a country with mountainous and difficult terrain, is heavily dependent on mobile communication services.

After the Taliban's return to power in 2021, despite their promises to show a milder approach to governance, many Afghans and the international community are concerned about restrictions on human rights and fundamental freedoms, including the right to access information. This massive shutdown only deepens these fears, effectively isolating the country from the outside world.