Govt unlikely to lift ban on Prepaid Internet Services

Even though situation has improved in the Valley to a larger extent, the government is unlikely to restore internet services on prepaid mobile connections.
The mobile phone services were suspended in the Valley after the killing of 21-year-old popular Hizbul Mujahideen Commander Burhan Muzaffar Wani on July 8, 2016.
Government restored the services of post-paid mobile phones first but it continued ban on internet services.
Authorities later lifted the ban on postpaid internet services on November 18, 2016 after remaining suspended for 133 days. However, the ban on pre-paid mobile internet services which constitutes major share of the subscribers continues to date
IGP Kashmir S J M Gilani said they are not yet considering restoring internet services of pre-paid mobiles.
“We will ask cellular companies to restore the services as soon as we deem it fit. As of now there is no such plan,” said Gilani.
One of the top officials at Airtel wishing not to be named said the law enforcing agency take the call on restoring the services.
“We also want ban to be lifted as this is affecting our business,” he said.
The suspension of the mobile phones services has affected the students most over past four months of unrest. The students wanted to remain in touch with the educational institutes in and outside the state besides accessing study materials.
Heena Bhat who is pursuing masters degree from University of Kashmir said she felt disappointed when government restored only post-paid mobile internet services.
“Students are mostly pre-paid subscribers. They are dependent on pre-paid mobile internet service for study material,” she said.
She said government should consider the aspiration of the majority of people who can’t afford post-paid and broadband internet services.
“Most of the students even can’t afford Jio’s free offer for which they needs 4G phones,” she adds.
The students said the content is uploaded on the university website which they couldn’t download.
Like Heena, Mohsina who is also pursuing masters degree from University of Kashmir faced many problems in the absence of internet services.
“I had to visit my maternal home to use broadband service and download the study material,” she said.
Mehnaz is another student preparing for M. Com 1st semester through Indira Gandhi National Open University. She was not aware that her examination starts from December 1, 2016.
“For over four months we did not access internet. The worst part is that my exams are next month and I was not even aware about the last date of the examination forms. I had to pay late fee of Rs 1000.”