As per the grapevine, the security agencies had given clearance for removing the internet restrictions as early as October 2019. In July 2020, the then Lt Governor of Jammu and Kashmir, GC Murmu had given a green signal to the Union Home Ministry for the restoration of 4G services. In an interview to Indian Express, he said high-speed internet will ‘not be a problem’. Days after his statement to the press, the LG was sacked and a new one was appointed.
Who Benefitted From the 4G Ban?
So why did the internet restrictions last so long? The answer to that question lies in identifying who benefited from the 4G ban. Arguably the telecom companies operating in Jammu and Kashmir had nothing to lose even as restrictions prolonged. For all these months, telecom operators charged consumers for 4G services, even for the months when telecom services were completely suspended.
On top of that, some of these companies launched broadband services in the union territory on a war footing. Broadband…