This is more likely to happen when a major iOS update has been recently released because so many people are trying to activate at once, and sometimes Apple's servers get overloaded. Try again in a little while, and perhaps a force restart of your iPad would help.

To force restart:

Hold both the home and power buttons at the same time until the Apple boot logo appears.

I have the same problem; Since yesterday.

DDon't work, this seems to only be affecting older ipads

This is happening to me too cant even restore it back, what a joke then you cant even get onto support to get help, now they want to charge me $39 to help me fix it what a joke

Same problem here, it's driving me mad!

This is a known issue/glitch.

Apple, I believe, has acknowledged the issues concening the Activation Server difficulties with some iPad and other iDevice models and is working on this issue with a fix coming. Hopefully soon.

I have the same problem; Since yesterday.

So glad its not just me with my technology insufficiencies!!!! Guess Ill just wait til tomorrow and see what happens

great they are working on it but if you cant get past the failure activation screen, how are we to log in to fix the problem, or will the activation work once they fix it

This has happened to me as well. Apple support via chat says they are working on it!!!!

Hope it will be fixed by morning. I get annoyed when I read that upgrades to version 9 have been causing problems for months. I would NOT have tried to update if I had read these earlier.

IL mio iPad 2 non si attiva da 2 gg ho. chiamato Apple support e non sanno cosa dire aspetto notizie

Me too! It's doing my head in! Apple Support message I got yesterday said that servers were congested but when I checked the status today it was green for go.