On 15 September 2025, the Taliban's supreme leader Hibatullah Akhundzada issued a ban on fibre-optic network and WiFi services in Afghanistan to 'prevent immorality', specifically in Balkh, Kandahar, Uruzgan Province, Zabul Province, and Nimruz Province, although Taliban. On 15 September 2025, the Taliban's supreme leader Hibatullah Akhundzada issued a ban on fibre-optic network and WiFi services in Afghanistan to 'prevent immorality', specifically in Balkh, Kandahar, Uruzgan Province, Zabul Province, and Nimruz Province, although Taliban. The Afghanistan Telecommunications Regulatory Authority (ATRA) has played a crucial role in coordinating these efforts, working with local and international telecom companies to implement network upgrades, address regulatory issues, and encourage investment in the sector. In addition, ATRA oversees. Concerns are growing in Afghanistan over tightening Taliban restrictions on fiber-optic internet access. Currently it is connected with 24 provinces and its active length is 4000/km. In 2016 Afghan fiber optic revenue increased to USD$70 million from USD$0. Once completed, the 4,600 Afghan Fiber Optic Ring (also known as the Afghan National Civil Optical Fiber Cable-OFC ring network) within the broader regional “Digital Silk Road” aims to. Fiber-optic and mobile internet access has been cut off, and experts warn of serious consequences for trade and girls' access to education. Fiber-optic internet and mobile data services across Afghanistan were down on Tuesday with no immediate explanation from the Taliban government. ” This marks the first time the Taliban have enforced such a wide-reaching decision since.
