Geopolitical Restrictions Worsen the Suffering of Taiz Residents in Accessing Telecommunications Services

Yemen Monitor | Reports Unit :

Thousands of residents in Taiz governorate are facing growing obstacles in accessing telecommunications and internet services due to the classification of areas by Yemeni telecom companies based on political control. This classification imposes strict restrictions on SIM cards originating from northern regions.

Jihad Abdulghani, an auto mechanic from the Shaqb area in southeastern Taiz, is forced to travel to the city and stay for two days just to activate a data package due to company-imposed restrictions. These restrictions prohibit direct activation of any SIM card from northern areas unless the user spends at least 48 hours in the city.

Jihad explains that while his area is administratively under the legitimate government, its technical classification as a northern region creates difficulties in obtaining telecom services. This drives up financial costs, with package prices rising from 1,500 to 6,600 Yemeni riyals. It also fuels a black market that exploits people’s urgent needs.

Although the concerned authorities justify these restrictions as measures to combat price manipulation, the reality suggests that the problem persists. Some people travel temporarily to stockpile credit in bulk, while ordinary citizens are deprived of basic services.

Financial and Administrative Complications

Engineer Samed Abdulmo’min, who works at a service point for the “YOU” telecom company, confirmed that the new policies negatively affect residents’ access to services. Users face both financial and administrative complications and are increasingly reluctant to purchase credit due to the system’s refusal to process transactions in districts like Saber al-Mawadem, which are classified as northern areas.

Samed urged the relevant authorities to reconsider these policies in order to make services more accessible without overly complicated restrictions.

Financial Burdens Multiply the People’s Hardship

Meanwhile, social journalist Raheeb Hael explained that telecom companies apply inconsistent classifications for top-up services, effectively dividing the market according to areas controlled by the legitimate government and those controlled by the Houthi group.

He noted that areas under government control—such as the districts of Salah, Same’a, Hayfan, Saber al-Mawadem, and al-Misrakh in Taiz—are denied the ability to receive data packages from southern regions. This increases financial burdens on residents due to currency exchange rate disparities.

Hael emphasized that the geographical overlap of control areas, coupled with companies’ distribution of network boosters in high-altitude zones, negatively impacts citizens. The placement of these boosters, depending on the controlling party, imposes usage restrictions on nearby users.

He called on the legitimate government to pressure telecom companies to relocate their headquarters to the temporary capital, Aden, and to provide services using the new currency at official rates. He also advocated for the establishment of an independent telecom network in government-controlled areas, with fair distribution of boosters and strict oversight to prevent discriminatory practices.

Hael concluded that telecommunications is a sovereign issue that should be given top priority. He urged local and international human rights organizations to pressure relevant authorities to ensure that essential services like telecommunications remain separate from political conflicts and are provided without restrictions or exploitation.