The Afghan Telecommunications Regulatory Authority (ATRA) states that in the past four years, the price of internet services in the country has been capped twice.
According to the spokesperson of the Afghan Telecommunications Regulatory Authority, in the second cap, which was set in the year 2021, the price of internet services was reduced by 15 Afghanis per GB and by more than 3% per minute of phone calls.
Jalaluddin Shams, the spokesperson for the Afghan Telecommunications Regulatory Authority, told reporters: “In the cap set in the year 2021, the price of services decreased, and now, due to the competition in the market, telecommunications networks offer internet and telecommunications packages at very low prices.”
The spokesperson also mentioned the efforts being made to ensure that all citizens of the country have access to telecommunication services. According to the data from the authority, more than 29 million citizens of the country currently have access to telecommunications services.
Mr. Shams added: “The expansion of telecommunications services is also progressing rapidly. In just 2023, more than 100,000 telecommunication sites were activated in the country, and today, more than 29 million citizens have access to these services.”
On the other hand, some economic experts emphasize the expansion of telecommunications and internet services across the country, calling for a reduction in costs and an improvement in quality.
Shakir Yaqubi, an economic expert, stated: “The more telecommunications services expand in the country, the more local markets can access national markets and engage in competition and marketing. The expansion of internet services also creates opportunities for marketing and improves quality.”
Although internet access in Afghanistan has increased, especially in large cities in recent years, it still faces criticism for its poor quality and high costs.
