Poor internet connectivity has irked the people of Kashmir amid COVID-19 pandemic. Despite appeals from various political organizations and business community JK administration has refused to restore 4G services here.

For a better connectivity with students, most of the private educational institutions in Kashmir had installed equipments and technical devices which can only run on 4G internet services.

Many NGO’s have approached courts including Supreme Court of India for the restoration of 4G services in Kashmir and the case would be listened on May 20, 2020.

JK administration has decided to extend ban on 4G services till May 11, 2020 after taking overall review of situation prevailing in Kashmir. Many organizations has expressed concern over the restrictions on internet speed in Jammu and Kashmir.

In this connection recently the United Nations Special Rapporteur on freedom of opinion and expression has said that limitations imposed by the government on internet in Jammu & Kashmir have made access to basic information difficult for healthcare professionals.

In his report titled “disease pandemics and the freedom of opinion and expression”, David Kaye, UN rapporteur on freedom of opinion and expression, has expressed concern over internet restrictions in Kashmir. It has been reported by health-care professionals in Kashmir that the limitations imposed by the government have made access to basic information difficult to obtain,” reads the report.

As the people of Kashmir in this COVID-19 crisis were expecting authorities to lift the curbs on the speed of internet, but the officials have decided to extend the ban.