Jammu Tawi, Jan 25
The Jammu and Kashmir Government has allowed mobile data services and internet access through fixed line across the union territory of Jammu and Kashmir from today.
The 2G mobile internet was restored on Saturday, after remaining suspended for the past 173 days, post abrogation of Article 370 in Jammu and Kashmir. However, broadband and other leased line internet remained suspended in Kashmir valley.
Three weeks after the Supreme Court said internet service was also a fundamental right, government in this recently-created Union Territory announced restoration of 2G mobile internet service on pre and post paid mobile phones of all Cellular companies.
However, people alleged that till 1600 hrs, mobile internet service had not been restored by the companies, who said that it will take some time to provide the service to subscribers. By Saturday night, service could be restored after conducting proper adjustments in the system, they said.
The government has already announced that social media network will remain suspended.
As per the order issued by the Home Department, the internet speed has been restricted to 2G and limited only to the white-listed sites.
The order directed that “Access will be limited only to white listed sites and not to any social media applications allowing peer to peer communication and Virtual Private Network applications. Further the data services will be available on post-paid mobiles as well as prepaid SIM cards of such holders whose credentials have been verified as per the norms applicable for post-paid connections. For fixed line internet connectivity, access will be limited only after Mac-binding”, says the order.
The order has listed around 300 white listed websites including email services, banking websites, education-related websites, job platforms, entertainment, tour and travel, weather websites etc adding that the white listing of sites shall be a continuous process.
The Administration has also decided to continue the communication/access facilities at e-terminals, internet kiosks for students, tourists, traders etc, says the order.
The directions will remain in force till January 31, 2020, unless modified earlier, reads the order.
People of Kupwara and Bandipora in north Kashmir, where 2-G service was resumed early this month, alleged that they were hardly able to open any page, because of very low speed.
However, broadband and leased line internet subscribers, including media-persons, doctors, students and traders continued to suffer, because of no internet.
The government suspended all communication network, including landlines, in the Union Territories of Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh on August 5. However, after some time, landlines and mobile network were restored in Jammu and Ladakh.
Later, after about a month, landlines were restored in Kashmir. After about three months, post-paid mobile service was restored, followed by pre-paid, last week.
However, internet service, including broadband, remained suspended, badly hitting media-persons, professionals, doctors and students, besides traders. A number of IT companies have been closed, due to non-availability of internet.
