Telecoms and Internet Services restored after nearly two-day outage in Afghanistan

Afghanistan’s internet and telecommunications services were restored late Wednesday following an almost two-day outage across the nation.

The interruption affected multiple sectors, highlighting the country’s growing dependence on digital connectivity for daily operations.

During the outage, Afghans faced challenges in business, healthcare, flights and international communications. Online classes were paused, businesses struggled to process transactions, and hospitals reported difficulties accessing critical medical data, including diagnostic results.

The outage also had an impact on Afghanistan’s aviation sector.

Airlines operating in the country, including Kam Air and Ariana Afghan Airlines, along with foreign carriers such as Turkish Airlines, Qatar Airways, and Emirates, rely on telecommunications and internet connectivity for flight scheduling, ticketing, and passenger services.

Over a dozen flights were cancelled over the past two days, leaving hundreds of passengers stranded.

Afghanistan has approximately 40 diplomatic missions worldwide, and around 20 embassies operate in Kabul. These institutions depend on secure telecommunications networks for coordination and communication, and the outage temporarily limited their ability to maintain real-time contact with international partners.

Officials and service providers have confirmed that services are now fully operational. Telecom companies are reportedly working to ensure uninterrupted service in the future and are evaluating measures to prevent similar disruptions.

While the cause of the outage has not been officially disclosed, analysts say the episode underscores the critical role of stable telecommunications in Afghanistan’s economic, educational, and healthcare systems, as well as in supporting international engagement.