By RFE/RL’s Radio Azadi October 8, 2025 Internet watchdog NetBlocks has confirmed reports from inside Afghanistan that several major social media sites have been “intentionally restricted.” “Metrics show social media platforms Instagram, Facebook and Snapchat are now restricted on multiple providers in Afghanistan; the incident follows last week’s telecoms blackout and is the latest in
Afghanistan International: The Taliban’s Ministry of Higher Education has banned professors and administrative staff below grade four from using smartphones at universities, citing concerns that mobile phone use “causes distraction and complicates work.” Click here to read more (external link).
By RFE/RL’s Radio Azadi October 2, 2025 For nearly 48 hours, Afghanistan was plunged into confusion and chaos after the Taliban government imposed a nationwide telecommunications blackout. The restoration of cell phone and Internet services on October 1 was met with widespread relief and anger, with Afghans recalling how their lives were abruptly upended. “These two
Khaama: Internet and telecom networks were restored in Afghanistan after a 72-hour blackout, resuming gradually with slow speeds, technical restrictions, and concerns over future sudden disruptions. Internet services in Afghanistan were restored on Wednesday after a nationwide blackout that lasted nearly 72 hours. The shutdown, ordered under senior leadership, caused severe disruption across the country.
Freshta Shikhani Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty September 30, 2025 The Taliban has imposed a nationwide shutdown of telecommunications in Afghanistan, a move that has largely cut off the country from the rest of the world. The hard-line Islamist group severed access to fiber-optic Internet across Afghanistan on September 29. Mobile phone networks, which share the same system,
Khaama: Afghan citizens criticized the nationwide internet blackout, warning it deepens isolation, disrupts communications, limits access to information, and pushes Afghanistan further from global progress and development. Afghan citizens have voiced sharp criticism over the nationwide shutdown of fiber optic internet, warning that the blackout threatens communication and further isolates the country. Access to fiber
By RFE/RL’s Radio Azadi September 26, 2025 Maryam has worked as an online interpreter since the Taliban banned women from most jobs in Afghanistan. But her livelihood is under threat after the hard-line Islamist group last week shut down access to fiber-optic Internet in large swaths of the country. The move has left government offices, homes,
Afghanistan International: Thousands of Afghan schoolchildren and university students have been unable to attend online classes after the Taliban cut internet services in several provinces, sources said Tuesday. A female student told Afghanistan International that the shutdown had effectively closed the last remaining door to education for girls. “With the internet cut, the Taliban has
Khaama: An Afghan-led team has secured first place in the Qualcomm Edge AI Consumer Utility Track at RAISE Your Hack 2025, the world’s largest AI hackathon, held at the Carrousel du Louvre in Paris. The event hosted over 6,200 participants, 923 teams, and 220 AI projects from across the globe. The team behind SignBridge includes
Moscow Times: A U.S.-sanctioned Russian telecom equipment developer installed 4G mobile network systems in Afghanistan last year to provide mobile services for up to 10 million people, the Vedomosti business newspaper reported Thursday. The work highlights Moscow’s deepening ties with the Taliban since the Islamist group returned to power in 2021 following the withdrawal of