Afghan mobile operators ordered to shut down networks by Taliban
By David Gonzales on 22 Oct 08If you think you’re having a hard time trying to get a sustained signal on your shiny iPhone 3G, try to do that in Ghazni, Afghanistan, where mobile operators are being ordered to temporarily shut down their networks, in accordance to orders of Taliban insurgents. These Taliban insurgents are arguing that network signals help track fighters of the insurgence.
Earlier this year, mobile operators were ordered to turn off their networks throughout the country during the day time. The most recent order from Taliban insurgents would render mobile networks unusable during the night time as well, and all this is because, as Taliban spokesman Zabiullah Mujahid says, “it endangers the lives of our fighters.”
The ongoing night-time shutdowns are now being implemented partially in the south, while networks in the north still do business as usual since it’s more peaceful up there. In any case, this is bad news for residents of the Ghazni province, and it is certainly a bad time to be down there or headed down there, at least until this insurgence ends or the opposed parties form an agreement.
Via Reuters
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