INDIA LIFTS 18-MONTH BAN ON 4G MOBILE INTERNET IN KASHMIR

Sat 06 February 2021:

High speed 4G internet services are being restored across Jammu and Kashmir, a senior government official said on Friday, more than 18 months after they were snapped to prevent a backlash against the centre’s move to revoke the former state’s special status.

“4G mobile internet services being restored in entire J&K,” tweeted Jammu and Kashmir administration spokesperson Rohit Kansal. The services are likely to resume from Friday midnight, news agency PTI reported, citing sources.

Jammu and Kashmir was put under what became the world’s longest-running internet shutdown in a democratic country on August 5, 2019, when the centre announced plans to scrap its decades-old autonomy listed in the constitution.

In days that followed, the state was split into two union territories – Jammu and Kashmir, and Ladakh – and several politicians, including three former Chief Ministers, were taken into detention to pre-empt a pushback.

Over the last year, broadband internet and slow mobile data were restored in phases since the Supreme Court told off the government earlier while hearing cases that called the curbs an assault on free speech and democratic rights.

Last August, the government told the Supreme Court that 4G internet services will be allowed on a trial basis in one district of Jammu and one of the Kashmir valley after Independence Day. The curbs on the rest of the state were extended multiple times.

Mobile internet services were throttled to stop the spread of misinformation and terrorists from abusing the networks, the administration said. However, critics said the restrictions have cost hundreds of thousands of jobs and crores in losses to the economy.

Former Chief Minister Omar Abdullah welcomed the move to restore 4G services, tweeting, “4G Mubarak! For the first time since Aug 2019 all of J&K will have 4G mobile data. Better late than never.”