India
The government of the Punjab region of India suspended mobile Internet and SMS services beginning on March 18 while police pursue a controversial Sikh separatist, leaving over 27 million Indians without access to mobile Internet. The government initially suspended Internet services until Sunday at noon, but subsequently extended the shutdown to first Monday and then Tuesday.
The Government of Punjab Department of Home Affairs and Justice issued an order on 17 March 2023 stating:
it is directed that all mobile internet services (2G/3G/45/5G/CDMA/GPRS), all SMS services (excluding banking and mobile recharge) and all dongle services provided on mobile networks, except the voice calls, in the territorial jurisdiction of Punjab shall be further suspended from March 20 (12.00 hours) to March 21 (12.00 hours) in the interest of public safety, to prevent any incitement to violence and to prevent any disturbance of peace and public order.
Per news reports, the shutdown only affects mobile Internet and does not affect fixed broadband services.
Cloudflare Radar data shows the substantial reduction of mobile Internet traffic in the three days since the shutdown began:
#LetTheNetWork in Punjab, India!
Internet bans impede independent news reporting and can worsen the spread of rumours and unrest. Shutdowns make law and order situations more dangerous and potentially more violent.@tame_wildcard on #InternetShutdownshttps://t.co/anlXRXdQ7g
— Access Now (@accessnow) March 20, 2023
Impact of internet suspensions extends beyond the economic realm & affects citizen's day-to-day lives by hindering communication as well as access to healthcare services, education, & news. Read this 🧵by @internetfreedom to know more about the internet suspension in Punjab. 👇 https://t.co/QT14fou7Lf
— Tejasi Panjiar (@TejasiPanjiar) March 18, 2023