People are now happy while holding their phones and conversing with their family and friends after internet service was restored in Afghanistan.

The disruptions in internet service started around September 15, following regional fibre-optic failures. It lingered for days until it spread across all parts of the nation by the evening of Monday, September 29, when both mobile and fibre internet services were totally cut off.

This affected emergency services as Afghans were unable to access both mobile data and fibre internet service, blocking access to basic communications platforms like WhatsApp and Signal, severely impacting education, healthcare, humanitarian aid, and daily life.

However, according to Internet Society Pulse, there has been a partial restoration in early October.Local reports also suggest that internet and telco services are gradually being restored.

“…Communications were resuming across provinces while internet monitor NetBlocks said live network data was showing a ‘partial restoration’ of connectivity”.

A source close to the government confirmed to BBC Afghan that the internet is back by special order of the Taliban prime minister.

The 48-hour blackout disrupted businesses and flights, limited access to emergency services and raised fears about further isolating women and girls whose rights have severely eroded since the Taliban swept back to power in 2021.

One man who visited several areas in the capital city, Kabul, on Wednesday told BBC Afghan: "Everyone is happy, holding their cell phones and talking to their relatives.

"From women, to men and Talibs [a member of the Taliban], each was talking on phones after services were restored. There are more crowds now in the city."

The government is yet to issue a formal statement on the shutdown; however, in September, when the disruptions began, a spokesperson for the Taliban governor in the northern province of Balkh said internet access was being blocked "for the prevention of vices".

Though the spokesperson didn’t specify what vices, it was widely reported that access to online pornography and immoral content contradicts their Islamic values. Also, the Taliban government have cited the use of social media by citizens for dissent or activism. Authorities have expressed unease over platforms being used to organise protests, share critical commentary, or promote ideas they deem subversive.

The internet has been a lifeline for Afghan women and girls, especially since bans on formal education for girls over 12. The Taliban view some of this digital engagement as contrary to their governance model.

Afghan women have told the BBC that the internet is a lifeline to the outside world since the Taliban banned girls over the age of 12 from getting an education. Women's job options have also been severely restricted, and in September, books written by women were removed from universities.

Since returning to power in 2021, the Taliban have imposed numerous restrictions in accordance with their interpretation of Islamic Sharia law.

Following the internet shutdown on Monday, the United Nations said it left Afghanistan almost completely cut off from the outside world. It added that it risked "inflicting significant harm on the Afghan people, including by threatening economic stability and exacerbating one of the world's worst humanitarian crises".

Meanwhile, in an unrelated development, users of MTN in Ghana, a leading telecom giant in Ghana, had their excitement short-lived when they began to make purchases of the newly increased data packages.

This was after customers made attempts to purchase data at around 7 am, according to a user on X (formerly Twitter) who was receiving feedback such as 'the service is being upgraded, try again after 7 AM.'

Others also claimed they were being given noon as another time to retry purchasing.In response to this, MTN issued a statement dated July 1, apologising for the inconvenience and assuring customers that services would be restored swiftly.

“We recognise the importance of staying connected and sincerely apologise for the inconvenience this may cause”, the MTN Corporate Communications Department explained.

They explained that they were experiencing what they described as a “major technical issue” while they were working to implement the 15% increment in data.“Whilst implementing the data offer, which will provide 15% additional volume of data from today, 1st July, 2025, MTN experienced a major technical issue that has affected data bundle purchases, including the data volume offer.

As a result, customers are temporarily unable to purchase data bundles,” parts of the statement read.

They concluded with an appreciation of customers' patience, promising occasional updates on the state of the service.

This comes on the back of Minister for Communication, Digital Technology, and Innovations Sam Nartey George announcing on June 10 in a press conference that, effective July 1, telecommunication companies will review the amount of data provided for their bundle packages.

Airtel Tigo (AT) and Telecel, he noted, were expected to increase their data offers by over 10%, whereas MTN will review their data offers by 15%, Mr Sam George revealed while engaging the press today, Tuesday, June 10.

AT's GHC400 data package, providing 195 GB, will now offer 236 GB. Telecel's GHC400 data package will now be worth 250 GB and not 190 GB, effective next month.

According to the minister, MTN will reintroduce its GHC399 data package, offering 214GB, and will stop providing 92.88GB for GHC350.

In a turn of events, AT and Telecel implemented a 15% increase in their data bundles. However, MTN stated that they were unable to do the same, citing challenges in implementing the increase.