Regional shutdown
Mobile Internet Services
Jammu and Kashmir
On April 18, 2020, the Home Department of Jammu and Kashmir issued Government Order No. 29(TSTS) of 2020, establishing regulatory measures for internet services with retroactive effect from April 17, 2020. This directive mandated the continuation of mobile data throttling to 2G speeds, maintaining strict restrictions on high-speed 4G connectivity despite the escalating COVID-19 lockdown requirements and the critical need for digital access to health and educational services.
The issuance of this order occurred during a critical juncture of the global pandemic, effectively creating a 'digital siege' within a physical lockdown. While healthcare professionals and students petitioned the Supreme Court of India for 4G restoration to facilitate telemedicine and remote learning, the administration justified the 2G limitation as a necessary preemptive measure against the misuse of high-speed data for coordinating militant activities. This persistent bandwidth throttling during a public health emergency exemplifies how national security narratives were prioritized over the fundamental right to information and health, significantly deepening the digital divide for millions of residents in the region.
- Total Duration 10 hours
India
- Population
- 1,463,865,525
Freedom House rates Internet freedom as Partly Free
Related documentation
On April 18, 2020, the Home Department of Jammu and Kashmir issued Government Order No. 29(TSTS) of 2020, establishing regulatory measures for internet services with retroactive effect from April 17, 2020. This directive mandated the continuation of mobile data throttling to 2G speeds, maintaining strict restrictions on high-speed 4G connectivity despite the escalating COVID-19 lockdown requirements and the critical need for digital access to health and educational services.
