Jammu & Kashmir: 4G Internet Services Restored In Ganderbal And Udhampur Districts On Trial Basis

Internet services across the valley were pulled down last year on August 5 after the central government abrogated Article 370 of the Indian Constitution.

Photo: PTI

After more than a year, 4G internet services were restored in two districts of Jammu Kashmir union territory - Ganderbal and Udhampur. However, the high-speed internet has been restored only on a trial basis and till September 8. The internet speed will continue to be restricted to 2G in the rest of the Valley. The restoration of 4G internet services is being done on the recommendation of a panel constituted by the Supreme Court of India to review the restrictions vis-à-vis the security situation in the Union Territory. According to the reports, the committee has decided that the restoration of 4G will be done on a trial basis from tonight in the two districts. The remaining 18 districts in the Union Territory will continue to have 2G services. Internet services across the valley were pulled down last year on August 5 after the central government abrogated Article 370 of the Indian Constitution, revoking the 'special status’ allotted to Jammu and Kashmir. Since then, the internet services across several districts in the Jammu and Kashmir valley had been restored in phases. Earlier this year on May 28, the Jammu Kashmir admin had extended the ban on 4G internet in Jammu and Kashmir till June 17, claiming that the reports have suggested a spurt in infiltration by militants during the coming weeks. Shaleen Kabra, Principal Secretary Home Department ha said that "The reports suggest a rise in the infiltration of (militant) during the coming weeks due to the onset of summer and melting of snow, which gets facilitated through the use of Voice on Internet Protocol (VOIP) and encrypted mobile communication, being used by the operatives/anti-national elements to communicate with their handlers from across the border."