Amid growing clamour over the restoration of high-speed Internet, the Jammu and Kashmir Government on Tuesday decided to continue the existing 2G mobile Internet services till March 26. Though the UT administration lifted the seven-month social media ban on postpaid mobile numbers across Jammu and Kashmir on March 4, it restricted the Internet speed to 2G.
In an order issued after reviewing the overall situation across the Union Territory on Tuesday, Principal Secretary, Home, Shaleen Kabra said, “The Internet speed on mobile data shall be restricted to 2G only and these services shall not be made available on the pre-paid SIM cards unless verified as per the norms applicable for post connections.”
On the fixed-line Internet, the order says the connectivity will continue to be made available with “MAC binding”. “The access/ communication facilities provided by the government viz: e-terminals/ Internet kiosks apart from special arrangements for tourists, students and traders shall continue,” it read. The mobile Internet services were barred on August 4 night last year when the Centre revoked the erstwhile state’s special status and bifurcated J&K into two Union Territories – J&K and Ladakh.