Srinagar (NVI): The Jammu and Kashmir administration has restored high-speed internet data services in Ganderbal and Udhampur districts in the Union Territory on a trial basis till September 8. The 4G internet services were restored at 9 pm, a day after the culmination of the Independence Day celebrations in the UT.
High-speed internet and voice services were snapped by the J&K government on August 5 last year after Centre abrogated Article 370 that have a special status to the erstwhile state of Jammu and Kashmir. J&K has been bifurcated into two Union Territories – Jammu & Kashmir, and Ladakh’s after the historic to merge the region with the mainstream.
However, internet speed will continue to be restricted to 2G only in rest of the districts, according to the order issued by the J&K government’s Home Department.
“The high speed mobile services in the districts of Ganderbal and Udhampur shall be restored forthwith, on trial basis, while in the rest of the districts, the internet speed shall continue to be restricted to 2G only,” read the order.
“While the post paid sim card holders shall continue to be provided access to the internet, these services shall not be made available on pre-paid sim cards unless verified as per the norms applicable for post-paid connections,” the order read.
On August 11, the Centre told Supreme Court that 4G internet services will be allowed in one district each in Kashmir and Jammu divisions on a trial basis after Independence Day i.e., August 15.
Attorney General KK Venugopal, representing Centre had said that carefully calibrated easing of internet restrictions subject to strict monitoring in certain areas could be done on a trial basis in selected areas.
However, it will not be in any area adjoining the international border or the Line of Control (LoC). 4G internet restoration will only be done in areas that have a low intensity of terrorist activities, he said.
-ARK
