The post-paid mobile services were resumed in Kashmir after 72 hours on Monday noon, but without any internet services.
Post-paid mobile services were resumed in Kashmir after 72 hours on Monday noon. (Photo: IANS)
A few hours after the post-paid mobile phone connections were restored, SMS services were stopped in the Kashmir Valley. The SMS services were stopped as a precautionary measure, officials said on Tuesday.
The post-paid mobile services were resumed in Kashmir after over two months on Monday noon, but without any internet services. The SMS services were stopped too by about 5pm, officials said.
As per the officials, over 25 lakh prepaid mobile phones and other internet services remain deactivated for now in the Valley.
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Governor Satya Pal Malik on Monday said that the internet services would resume very soon, but officials in the security establishment indicated that the process will take up to two months time.
They said that a decision on pre-paid customers could be taken next month.
On August 5, right after the decision of abrogation of Article 370 from the Constitution, all network and landline connections were suspended in the state.
Later on August 17, partial fixed-line telephony resumed with more than 50,000 landline phones made operational after services in 17 exchanges of the Valley were restored as part of gradual easing of restrictions in a phased manner, but the restrictions on the mobile devices remained.
On Saturday, the Jammu and Kashmir government informed that all postpaid mobile services will be functional from Monday 12 noon in the valley.
“Mobile phone connections, to be specific, all postpaid mobile phone connections, irrespective of service provider, will resume from Monday – October 14th at noon. This will happen across the state, in all 10 districts of Kashmir,” Jammu and Kashmir Principal Secretary Rohit Kansal said at a press conference.
Kansal said that the restrictions were imposed to ensure that no life is lost due to externally aided terrorism.
In Jammu, the communication was restored within days of the blockade and mobile internet started around mid-August. However, Internet services were blocked after its misuse on August 18.
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