4G restored in J&K’s Ganderbal, Udhampur dists on ‘trial basis’

The move comes nearly a week after the Home Ministry submitted in the Supreme Court that 4G Internet services would be restored on a “trial basis and calibrated manner in specified limited areas”.

After suspending phone and Internet services on August 5 last year—the day the Centre revoked the erstwhile state’s special status and bifurcated it into two UTs — the government had restored mobile Internet services on January 25. But, it had asked service providers to limit access to only the websites white-listed by the government and restrict the speed to 2G.

The ban on 4G Internet was challenged by a NGO. The Supreme Court panel looking into the issue had recommended its restoration on a “trial basis”.

The panel had recommended that the districts chosen for the trial “should not be in any areas adjoining the International Border/Line of Control” and that the area should have “low intensity of terrorists activities and minimal spill-over effects”.

Ganderbal is considered one of the more peaceful districts in the Valley. Udhampur was selected as it has no proximity to the border. Most districts in Jammu are considered peaceful.