J&K: Govt Restores Partial Broadband Connectivity To Hospitals, Hotels; Ban On Social Media To Stay

The administration of the Union Territory (UT) of Jammu and Kashmir (J&K) has restored broadband internet in hotels, hospitals and travel establishments, reports News18.

The three-page order issued late Tuesday (14 January) from the administration also decreed that as many as 400 internet kiosks will be established in Kashmir division of the UT. The order though also ensured that the access to social networking websites would remain completely restricted.

Internet service providers will offer broadband facility (with Mac binding) to all institutions dealing with essential services, hospitals, banks as also government offices.

Mac Binding means to enforce a client machine to work from a particular Internet Protocol address.

The administration also decided to restore the 2G mobile internet facility on postpaid connections across Jammu division's Jammu, Samba, Kathua, Udhampur and Reasi districts. However, the access would remain restricted to white-listed websites, including e-banking services.

The latest development comes after the Supreme Court had instructed the Centre and the administration of the UT of J&K to review the restrictions which had been imposed since the Article 370 of Constitution had been deoperationalised by the Parliament in August.