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Prepaid mobile connections restored in Jammu & Kashmir

Internet service providers have been asked to provide fixed line Internet connectivity in all the 10 districts of Jammu region and two districts, Kupwara and Bandipora, in North Kashmir
Last Updated 18 January 2020, 14:17 IST

The Jammu and Kashmir administration on Saturday announced the restoration of prepaid mobile services in the Valley and 2G mobile data service on postpaid connections for accessing “whitelisted” sites across the Jammu division.

The announcement comes barely days after Supreme Court directed the J&K administration to review all curbs imposed in the Union Territory after August 5.

J&K government spokesman Rohit Kansal said that competent authority after a proper review has decided that voice and SMS services on prepaid mobile phones will be restored across Jammu and Kashmir UT.

“Further in order to consider provisions of mobile internet connectivity on prepaid SIM cards, the telecom service providers shall initiate the process of verification of credentials for these subscribers as per available norms for postpaid subscribers,” Kansal said while addressing a presser, here.

He said that internet service providers both BSNL and private service providers will provide fixed-line internet connectivity with precautions as already directed to all companies engaged in the software services sector.

The companies that are engaged in Software (IT/ITES) Services shall be provided with fixed-line internet connectivity by the Internet Service Providers (ISPs- BSNL/Private Service Providers) with the precautions as already directed as per the order issued by the Home Department in the last week.

He announced that 2G mobile data services on the post-paid mobiles for accessing "white-listed" sites now, shall be allowed in all the 10 districts of Jammu division. The 2G mobile internet shall also be restored in the revenue districts of Kupwara and Bandipora of Kashmir Valley, he added.

The mobile internet connectivity shall, however, remain suspended in the districts of Srinagar, Budgam, Ganderbal, Baramulla, Anantnag, Kulgam, Shopian and Pulwama, the government spokesperson added.

With regard to the details of the whitelisted companies, Kansal said that the competent authority has released a list of all 153 websites that have been identified as white list categories and can be accessed through 2G mobile data services.

He informed the media persons that to consider the provision of mobile internet connectivity on pre-paid SIM cards, the Telecom Service Providers (TSPs) shall initiate the process for verification of credentials of these subscribers as per the norms applicable for post-paid connections.

The telecom operators are being issued instructions to operationalize the above directions immediately providing for all the safeguards detailed in the order issued by the competent authority, he added.

Pertinently, the government had ordered the restoration of 2G mobile data services on the post-paid mobiles in the five districts of Jammu division including Jammu, Samba, Kathua, Udhampur and Reasi on January 15.

Kansal further reiterated that the overall effort of the government shall be to facilitate and to keep restrictions to the bare minimum based on the ground situation.

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(Published 18 January 2020, 09:43 IST)

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