Afghanistan Nationwide Communication Blackout

On the afternoon of September 29, 2025, a major communication blackout occurred across Afghanistan, including the capital city Kabul.

Mobile signals (voice and data services), fiber-optic networks, and microwave broadband links were either shut down or severely restricted.

In some areas, the network nearly collapsed entirely.

According to the internet monitoring organization NetBlocks, local internet traffic dropped to about 1% of normal levels.

Afghan local media reported that internet service providers issued notices stating that the disruption was implemented under orders from the Afghan government.

Since mid-September, Taliban authorities had already ordered the shutdown of fiber-optic and Wi-Fi services in several provinces. Beginning on September 29, these shutdowns escalated to a nationwide scale.

Following the blackout, Kabul International Airport announced the cancellation of all flights.

The communication shutdown crippled the ticketing system, flight scheduling, and contact between passengers and airlines.