Residents of Kabul have complained about the high cost of internet packages in the country and have called on the Ministry of Communications and Information Technology to reduce internet prices.

They believe that the price of the internet does not match its poor quality and are demanding improved services along with lower costs.

 “The price of the internet has increased and should be reduced slightly because the economic situation of the people is weak. If the price goes down, internet usage will increase,” said Shoaib, a resident of Kabul.

“In other countries, the internet is both cheap and high-quality, but in Afghanistan, it is expensive and performs poorly. My request is that prices should be reduced,”  said Abdul Malik, another resident of Kabul.

While internet prices in Afghanistan are high, neighboring countries offer better quality at lower costs.

 “One GB of internet in Turkey costs 35 lira, which is approximately equivalent to 1 dollar or 70 to 73 afghani,” Feroz Aydin Mohammadi, an Afghan migrant in Turkey.

 “Access to the internet in Pakistan is very easy. Packages of 200 GB and even 1500 GB can be purchased for 500 Afghanis,” said Malik Aul Shinwari, an Afghan migrant in Pakistan.

However, the Afghanistan Telecommunication Regulatory Authority (ATRA) has announced that it is working to improve accessibility and reduce internet costs in the country.

Jalaluddin Shams, ATRA’s spokesperson, said: “After analyzing the revenues and expenses of telecom companies, ATRA has set a specific price, which has been implemented since the beginning of 2025. Competition among companies has also increased, and they are now lowering their internet package prices to attract more customers."

Previously, the Ministry of Communications and Information Technology announced the approval of a project to lay 488 kilometers of fiber optic cable across Afghanistan.

The ministry also stated that the connection of the fiber optic network is ongoing in some provinces, while in others, the work has recently begun.