Balkh residents uneasy with low quality Internet service

MAZAR-I-SHARIF (Pajhwok): Residents of northern Balkh province complain of patchy and expensive internet service and call on the government to ensure telecom companies provide proper services to the people.

Hikmatullah Rahmani, a resident of Mazar-i-Sharif, told Pajhwok people seriously needed internet in the current era, but the service provided to them was of low quality.

“The Internet is very weak, it works in one place, but not in another place. We switch to other networks, that’s too in vain, we can do nothing to do our work properly.”

He said internet price was high and its quality was not good and every network had its own problems. “The caretaker government should pay serious attention to this issue”.

Another resident, Abdul Hakim, said the internet did not work properly in Mazar-i-Sharif while this problem was serious in districts.

He said one GB internet was available for 250 afghanis, but it got expired without being used due its poor quality.

Another resident, Hashmatullah Sultani, asked the government to bring down internet prices and improve its quality.

Owners of internet cafes in Mazar-i-Sharif also complained about low speed of internet.

Abdul Hai, an Internet café manager, said customers expected fast and good Internet from them, but they were helpless and as a result their lost customers.

Afghanistan Telecommunication Services Regulatory Agency (ATRA) also acknowledged the problem of Balkh residents and says efforts are underway to improve the service.

Jalaluddin Shams, ATRA spokesperson, said they had started serious efforts to provide better services by telecommunication networks.

He said every quarter of the year, the quality of telecommunication networks was evaluated and legal action taken in case of violation.

Residents of some other provinces have also complained about low quality of telecom services especially the internet.

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