The ruling Afghan Taliban government has banned fibre optic internet access in the country after imposing a widespread mobile internet ban in the mountainous regions earlier this month. The government said it has ordered a nationwide shutdown of the internet until further notice.
The move is expected to disrupt government sectors including internet banking and online payment services as well, although no clarification was issued by the telecommunications ministry regarding the amount of disruptions being witnessed due to the ban.
One of the officials added that there isn’t any other way or system to communicate, with “the banking sector, customs, everything across the country to be affected.”
Also Read: Taliban bans internet in northern Afghanistan
While a statement issued by the country’s ministry said only one per cent of the connectivity was reportedly affected by the ban, and that the majority of the critical sectors were functioning normally, it is expected that there would be disruptions in radio and television transmissions too.
During their previous announcement, Taliban officials said that they were shutting down the internet to prevent the spread of ‘immorality’ in the country.
Earlier this month, the Taliban's provincial spokesman in Balkh had said that internet access had been cut on the leadership's orders, noting, "This measure was taken to prevent vice, and alternative options will be put in place across the country to meet connectivity needs."
However, authorities have also been imposing restrictions on the internet in the northern provinces of Badakhshan and Takhar, as well as in Kandahar, Helmand, Nangarhar and Uruzgan in the south.
The internet speed in the country will be reduced to 2G in the coming days, it was reported, which would pose grave problems for administrative, educational, and banking institutions in the country.
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