SRINAGAR – Broadband and high speed mobile internet service remained suspended in Kashmir valley since August 5, when centre scrapped Article 370 and 35 A, besides downgraded the state and divided it into two Union Territories (UTs).
However, 2G internet on pre and post paid mobile service of all Cellular companies has been restored on January 25. But the service was again suspended for about nine hours on Sunday when people celebrated 71st Republic Day (RD) in the valley.
The government also announced allowing fixed line internet service limited to white listed sites in the UT Jammu and Kashmir from January 25. However, the customers have to give an undertaking before their fixed internet service is restored that they will not access to any social media applications.
People, particularly media persons, doctors, students and other professionals continued to suffer as broadband and high speed mobile internet service remained suspended since August 5, when all communication networks were snapped in Jammu and Kashmir and UT Ladakh. The order has listed 300 white websites, including email service, banking website, education related websites, job platforms, entertainment, tour and travel and weather website. White listing of websites shall be continuous process. No newspaper or national news agencies are among the white list of websites.
However, mobile and broadband services were restored in Jammu and Ladakh after about one week. 2G mobile internet service was also restored in Jammu in the third week of August but was again snapped after few hours.
People in the valley continued to suffer as even landlines phone also remained suspended.
Hundreds of people were visiting Deputy Commissioners’ offices and police stations daily to contact their relatives outside the valley through mobile phone facility. It was only after a month landlines were restored in the valley, where only few per cent people had such facilities. Later Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited (BSNL) provided thousands of landlines to customers in the valley in the last week of August.
However, only post-paid mobile service was restored on October 14 in the valley. Later pre paid mobile phone service was restored on January 20 while 2G mobile service was resumed on January 25.
Meanwhile, people alleged that restoration of 2G mobile service has hardly helped them as they cannot have access to any site despite repeated attempts.
Media persons, who were the worst hit, have to go to information department to file their stories to their organizations.
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