A massive communications blackout affected Afghanistan on Monday, following weeks of the Taliban authorities cutting fibre optic connections across several provinces in an effort to curb "vice." Afghanistan's Taliban authorities began the crackdown on internet access earlier this month, effectively shutting down high-speed internet in several regions. Over the past several weeks, internet connections have been extremely slow or intermittent. "Physically pulling the plug on fibre internet would therefore also shut down mobile and fixed-line telephone services," Netblocks told AFP. On September 16, Balkh provincial spokesman Attaullah Zaid said fibre optic internet was completely banned in northern province on the leader's orders.