2G Net continued till March

Tribune News Service

Jammu, March 17

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 31.

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.

Restore 4G to control Covid, says Bukhari

Srinagar: Jammu Kashmir Apni Party (JKAP) president Syed Altaf Bukhari on Tuesday urged the Union Home Minister to restore high-speed mobile Internet as a preventive measure against the spread of coronavirus in Jammu and Kashmir. Bukhari observed that the restoration of 4G mobile Internet services in Jammu and Kashmir would enable people, especially the students, to remain engaged inside their homes, thereby effectively containing the global pandemic Covid-19.