Afghanistan blind without phones and internet' on second day of telecoms blackout

"Afghanistan faced a second day without internet and mobile phone service on Tuesday after Taliban authorities cut the fibre-optic network. The government began shutting down high-speed internet connections to some provinces earlier in the month to prevent vice, on the orders of the supreme leader, Hibatullah Akhundzada. On Monday night, mobile phone signal and internet service gradually weakened nationwide until connectivity was less than 1% of the ordinary levels, according to the internet watchdog NetBlocks."

"It is the first time since the Taliban government won their insurgency in 2021 and imposed a strict version of Islamic law that communications have been shut down in the country. We are blind without phones and internet, said Najibullah, a 42-year-old shopkeeper in Kabul. All our business relies on mobiles. The deliveries are with mobiles. It's like a holiday, everyone is at home. The market is totally frozen."

"In the minutes before it happened, a government official warned AFP that the fibre-optic network would be cut, also affecting mobile phone services. Eight to nine thousand telecommunications pillars would be shut down, he said, adding that the blackout would last until further notice. There isn't any other way or system to communicate the banking sector, customs, everything across the country will be affected, said the official, who asked not to be named."

Taliban authorities cut the national fibre-optic network, causing a second consecutive day of nationwide internet and mobile phone blackout. The shutdown followed earlier closures of high-speed connections in some provinces ordered by supreme leader Hibatullah Akhundzada to prevent vice. NetBlocks measured connectivity falling to under 1% of normal levels. The interruption halted digital commerce, deliveries and market activity, and officials warned that banks, customs and other services that rely on telecoms would be affected. Thousands of telecommunications pillars were ordered shut and international agencies reported severe operational impacts, reverting to radio and limited satellite communications.

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