
After a whole year and a half of suspension of high-speed internet, the Central Government today restored all 4G internet services in 18 districts of Jammu & Kashmir.
On August 5, 2019, Government of India had revoked the special status, or limited autonomy, granted under Article 370 of the Indian Constitution to Jammu & Kashmir following which the state had been reorganized into two Union Territories (UTs) – Ladakh and Jammu and Kashmir.
The internet services in J&K, however, were then suspended by the Center as a security measure. Earlier this year, the UT administration extended the suspension of internet services saying it was important “in the interest of the sovereignty and integrity of India, the security of the state and for maintaining public order.”
Throughout 2020, broadband internet and slow mobile data were slowly restored step-by-step after the Supreme Court it was presented with cases that called the internet suspension as an assault on free speech and democratic rights.
The internet speed was, in an extension to the suspension, was restricted to 2G, except the districts of Ganderbal and Udhampur, where mobile internet connectivity was available without any speed restrictions.
Former Chief Minister of the state of Jammu & Kashmir tweeted congratulations to the people of the state.
4G Mubarak! For the first time since Aug 2019 all of J&K will have 4G mobile data. Better late than never.
— Omar Abdullah (@OmarAbdullah) February 5, 2021