KABUL, Afghanistan — Despite the Taliban’s announcement of reduced prices for internet and telecommunications services, many Kabul residents argue that the costs remain unaffordable, particularly given the country’s dire economic conditions.
While the Taliban-run Ministry of Communications and Information Technology claimed on Wednesday that the new plan would ease financial burdens, citizens say the high prices and poor service quality continue to be significant challenges.
The revised rates include one gigabyte of internet for 95 afghanis (approximately $1.20) and reduced fees for phone calls and text messages. However, users across Afghanistan maintain that these reductions are insufficient and fail to address broader issues of accessibility and reliability.
Other revised rates include:
One gigabyte of internet: 95 afghanis
One-minute phone call within the same network: 1.30 afghanis
One-minute phone call between different networks: 1.40 afghanis
Text message within the same network: 1.30 afghanis
Text message between different networks: 1.40 afghanis
Mixed Reactions from Citizens
While some citizens have expressed cautious optimism about the price reductions, others remain critical, citing the high cost relative to Afghanistan’s economic conditions and the poor quality of services.
“This is a good step, but we need to ensure that telecom companies don’t lower their service quality in exchange for reduced prices,” said Mohammad Ishaq, a resident of Kunduz. “In rural areas, the internet barely works, yet the data packages are still consumed. This issue needs to be addressed.”
Behnaz, a resident of Farah, echoed similar concerns. “It’s positive that telecom prices have come down, but even at 95 afghanis for one gigabyte of internet, the cost is still high given the economic struggles people face. Plus, the quality is poor, and one gigabyte barely lasts a day. More substantial measures are needed.”
Afghanistan’s internet services are primarily supplied via fiber optic networks from neighboring countries, including Iran, Pakistan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan. These networks are distributed domestically through the state-run Afghan Telecom and then provided to private companies.
According to Afghanistan’s telecommunications regulatory authority (ATRA), the country has 23 million active mobile subscribers, 12 million of whom use internet services.
While the Taliban’s announcement has brought temporary relief to some users, many believe there is still room for improvement. Citizens have urged the government to not only lower prices further but also address issues of service reliability and accessibility in remote areas.
