Overview

• Taliban orders attributed to Haibatullah Akhundzada have led to fiber and Wi‑Fi shutdowns in multiple provinces, with officials framing the move as a push to prevent “vice.”
• Access Now and NetBlocks report measurable declines in traffic across affected regions, with sources indicating up to 10 of 34 provinces impacted, including Kandahar, Helmand and Balkh.
• Connectivity patterns vary by location, with Wi‑Fi and fiber cut in places such as Mazar‑i‑Sharif while cellular service remains available but slower and more expensive; Kandahar access has been disputed by officials.
• Afghan activists and diaspora organizers have launched Open Net Afghanistan to seek humanitarian Starlink access and to deploy VPNs and mesh networks in coordination with providers such as Psiphon, Outline and Briar.
• Taliban representatives have suggested a domestically built alternative network, as businesses, banks, NGOs and online education for girls report growing disruption.