2G mobile internet services restored in J&K
JAMMU/SRINAGAR: After remaining shut for more than five months, 2G mobile internet services on postpaid as well as prepaid cell phones were restored with some curbs in the Kashmir valley on Saturday, claimed an official order issued by the home department.
However, access is limited only on white-listed websites.
“Mobile data services and internet access through fixed line shall be allowed across the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir with some restrictions. Access shall be limited only to the white-listed sites and not to any social media applications allowing peer to peer communication and virtual private network applicaitions,” state the order issued by principal secretary, home department, Shaleen Kabra.
“Data services shall be available on postpaid mobiles and on prepaid SIM cards of such holders whose credentials have been verified as the norms applicable for postpaid connections and the internet speed shall be restricted to 2G only,” further stated the order.
The decision has come as a major relief for to the people of Jammu and Kashmir, who had been facing communication lockdown since August 5 last year when Article 370 was scrapped and the state was bifurcated into two Union Territories.
“We have been facing hardships since the internet and mobile connectivity was snapped on August 5 last year. We hope the situation will improve further and there will be full restoration of 4G mobile internet services,” said Ghulam Ahmed, a resident of Srinagar.
“The directions shall be effective from January 25 and remain in force till January 31 unless modified earlier,” said Kabra.
Earlier on January 15, 2G services were reinstated in Jammu, Samba, Kathua, and Udhampur for white-listed sites.
LOCALS DEMAND FULL RESTORATION
SRINAGAR: As the 2G mobile and low speed internet was slowly being restored in all districts of J&K after 175 days, people demand full restoration of mobile internet as well as broadband services.
People were glued to their mobile phones from morning to check whether the internet was working. By the afternoon, there were some signs of restoration but people appeared frustrated with its slow speed as even social media has also been kept out of bounds.
“We want complete restoration of internet with full speed. This is frustrating,” said Waseem Ahmad, a trader of the city.
Residents said they have been able to access only a limited number of websites while the net on broadband was not restored yet.
On Friday, the UT administration had decided to restore mobile internet and fixed line connectivity in all the districts from Saturday, a day ahead of the Republic Day. On Friday night, J&K’s home secretary Shaleen Kabra issued a notification for restoration of 2G internet on the mobile in all Valley districts and also on fixed landlines.
After the announcement, people were desperately checking their mobile phones for connectivity and many even called telecom operators to know about the actual time they could access it.
Kashmir Chamber of Commerce and Industries, president, Sheikh Ashiq told Hindustan Times that restoration of internet was one of the main demands of the federation. “We were hopeful that once it was restored, it will work properly.’’
Ishfaq Ahmad, who works in a private company and has been travelling outside the state to access the internet and emails, said it is right of the people to get internet. “We have suffered a lot due to restrictions. Traders have suffered huge losses. The government should restore it completely with full speed. It makes no point as in why the government is putting curbs even though almost six months have already elapsed,’’ he said.
PEOPLE FRUSTRATED WITH SLOW SPEED AND CURBS AS SOCIAL MEDIA HAS ALSO BEEN KEPT OUT OF BOUNDS