Prepaid mobile connections restored in Jammu and Kashmir

Voice calls and short messaging service (SMS) fcilities were restored for all local prepaid mobile phones across the Union Territory on Saturday.

Confirming the restoration, a senior official said, “Prepaid mobile connections were restored in Jammu and Kashmir and 2G services were resumed in two districts of the valley after being disconnected in August last year.”

Rohit Kansal, the principal secretary to the administration of Jammu and Kashmir said the order will come into effect from Saturday.

In order to consider giving mobile internet connectivity on such SIM cards, the telecom service providers will have to verify the credentials of the subscribers, he said.

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.

However, mobile internet still remained suspended in Budgam, Ganderbal, Baramulla, Srinagar, Kulgam, Anantnag, Shopian and Pulwama.

Telecom services were shut in the entire Jammu and Kashmir on August 5 when the Centre abrogated special status to the erstwhile state and also bifurcated it into two Union Territories.

However, the Supreme Court came down heavily on the UT administration last week for arbitrarily shutting down the Internet, the facility described as the fundamental right by the apex court.

(With inputs from PTI)