After remaining suspended for 18 months, Jammu and Kashmir adminstration on Friday restored high-speed 4G internet services in the entire union territory (UT).
“4G mobile internet services being restored in entire J&K,” government spokesperson, Rohit Kansal, tweeted.
The services were suspended on August 5, 2019 when the Centre abrogated the special status of Jammu and Kashmir under Article 370 and bifurcated the erstwhile state into two union territories.
2G internet service on mobile phones was restored on January 25, 2020. On August 16 last year, high speed mobile data services were restored in two out of 20 districts of J&K - Ganderbal and Udhampur - on “trial basis” as part of “calibrated easing of restrictions.”
On September 9, the Centre refused to extend high speed mobile internet outside the two districts, citing inputs about “terror modules” trying to lure youth into terrorist organisations.
Suspending internet services in Kashmir has been common over the last few years. After every gunfight between militants and security forces, the government blocks the internet as a “precautionary measure.”
In 2016, following the unrest after Hizbul Mujahideen commander Burhan Wani was killed by security forces, mobile internet services were suspended for 133 days from July 8 onwards that year.
Internet bans in Kashmir have not only proved calamitous for the economy, crushing innovation in the region and leading to joblessness, but has also impacted patient care in times of Covid-19 pandemic.