How to Keep Family in Afghanistan Online for WhatsApp and IMO Video Calls

To keep family in Afghanistan online for WhatsApp or IMO calls, send them mobile internet: a data bundle if one is available for their network, or airtime they can use for data. Video calls use far more data than messages, so the size of what you send should match how often you call and whether you use video. A few phone settings on their side can make the same internet last noticeably longer.

Key takeaways

• WhatsApp and IMO calls use mobile internet, not ordinary call credit.
• Video calls use the most data; voice calls use much less; text and voice notes use very little.
• A data bundle usually gives more internet for the money; airtime is the flexible fallback on every network.
• Turning on “use less data for calls” and limiting media auto-download helps the data last.
• Wi-Fi, where the family has it, saves mobile data for when it’s really needed.

Why do WhatsApp and IMO calls need data, not call credit?

A WhatsApp or IMO call travels over the internet, so your relative’s phone uses mobile data (or Wi-Fi), not the minutes of an ordinary call. With airtime but no bundle, the app’s data is paid from the balance at the operator’s standard rate.

That is why, if calling you is the main reason they use the phone, sending internet is usually more useful than sending call credit.

Data bundle or airtime: which should I send?

Both are sent from the same top-up form: enter the number and switch between airtime and data plans.

Send a data bundle when:

• the family mainly uses WhatsApp, IMO, Facebook or YouTube,
• you have regular video calls,
• a suitable bundle is listed for their number.

Send airtime when:

• no bundle that suits them is available online for their network,
• they also make ordinary phone calls,
• they prefer to choose and activate a package themselves.

Which networks have bundles online, and which bundles, changes over time, so always check the data bundles page for what is available today. For a deeper comparison, read airtime vs data bundles.

How much data do different activities use?

Exact amounts depend on the app, the phone, the network signal and the video quality, so it isn’t possible to give one number that is right for everyone. As a general order, from least to most data:

1. Text messages: very little.
2. Voice notes and photos: a little each, but they add up in busy family groups.
3. Voice calls on WhatsApp or IMO: moderate.
4. Browsing and social media feeds: moderate to high, especially with autoplay videos.
5. Video calls: high. The longer the call and the more people on it, the more data it uses.
6. Watching videos on YouTube or social media: often the highest of all.

A practical way to size it: start with a mid-sized bundle, then ask how long it lasted. If it ran out well before the end of its validity, send a bigger one next time. If plenty was left when it expired, a smaller one is enough.

Settings that make data last longer

Set these up together during a call. They stop data being used in the background.

On WhatsApp:

• Turn on Use less data for calls in Settings › Storage and data.
• Under Media auto-download, set photos, audio, videos and documents to download on Wi-Fi only, or never. The family can still open any media by tapping it.

On the phone:

• Android: turn on Data Saver and set the Play Store to update apps over Wi-Fi only.
• iPhone: turn on Low Data Mode for mobile data, and turn off automatic app updates on mobile data.
• Turn off autoplay videos in social media apps.

On IMO and other apps: check the app’s own settings for data-saving or download options. If the video freezes on a weak signal, switching to a voice call is often clearer and uses less data.

How can Wi-Fi help?

If the family has Wi-Fi at home, at a relative’s house or at work, let it carry the heaviest use: app updates, backups, video downloads and long video calls. Mobile data is then kept for when they are away from Wi-Fi. Remind them that public Wi-Fi isn’t always private, so avoid sensitive logins on it.

Planning calls around the bundle

A data bundle is valid for a set number of days, and unused data usually expires at the end of that period. To get the most out of it:

• Send the bundle shortly before you plan to call, not weeks ahead.
• Agree regular call times so you know roughly how much video you will use in a month.
• Send a bit of airtime as well if they make ordinary calls, because most data bundles don’t cover phone calls.
• Mind the time difference. Afghanistan is ahead of Europe and North America, so your evening may be their night. Our guides for the UK, USA, Germany and the EU and Canada list the gaps.

What if the call still won’t connect?

If the bundle arrived but calls are poor:

1. Make sure mobile data is on, airplane mode is off, and the phone isn’t stuck on a Wi-Fi network that isn’t working.
2. Restart the phone, which can help a new bundle start working.
3. Try a voice call instead of video if the signal is weak.
4. Ask them to check the SMS from their operator confirming the bundle.

If the top-up or bundle itself didn’t arrive, follow our step-by-step guide: my top-up didn’t arrive.

In short

WhatsApp and IMO calls run on mobile internet, so the most useful thing you can send for regular calls is data: a bundle where one is available, or airtime they can use for internet. Video uses the most data, so size the bundle to how often you call and adjust after seeing how long it lasts. Simple settings, such as using less data for calls, limiting auto-downloads and using Wi-Fi where possible, make every bundle go further.

Frequently asked questions