Mobile internet ban for over 180 days cripples many
Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, November 05 2023:
The State-wide mobile internet ban for the last six months continues to disproportionately affect students in hill areas which are not covered by broadband connections like Airtel Xstream, Jio Fiber etc.
Due to the eruption of violence on May 3, the Manipur Home Department imposed a ban on mobile internet services from May 3 evening onwards.
Acknowledging that a semblance of normalcy had returned in the State, the internet ban was lifted on September 23.Two days later that is on September 25, photos of the bodies of two young students, Phijam Hemanjit and Linthoingambi Hijam who went missing on July 6 lying slumped on the ground were uploaded on social media which soon went viral.
Following this, the Home Department reimposed the ban, which had been lifted for only two days, and it has remained effective till date.
Speaking to The Sangai Express in this connection, one Tanghiring Anal from Unopat village under Chandel district conveyed that owing to the ban on mobile internet services, students continue to face inconveniences in online form submissions and parents and guardians in sending money to their wards studying outside the State.
In the midst of this mobile internet ban, some districts in the valley have access to the internet through Airtel Xstream Fiber and Jio Fiber connections.
However, in hill areas where these connections are not yet feasible, students are unable to submit forms for various exams and hence end up having to come to Imphal and submit the necessary forms at the DC offices, where internet services are available, Tanghiring Anal said.
In addition, parents are no longer able to check up on the well-being of their children living in other States through video calls.
As sending money to their wards through online payments is no longer a possibility, they now have to make frequent visits to the bank.
Highlighting the grievances of the hill people, Tanghiring urged the State Government to restore mobile internet services and alleviate the inconveniences faced by students and their families in the hill region.
Sharing a similar experience, one Mangsatabam (Ongbi) Chitra Leima from Soibam Leikai said that she has been sending money to her two children studying in Bengaluru directly through the bank.
Due to the ban, she can no longer check to see if her children are eating well or studying regularly through video calls.
Saying that this has caused her a lot of anguish, she urged the Home Department to lift the ban.
Meanwhile, a store owner from Khwairamband Keithel pointed out that though Airtel Xstream Fiber and Jio Fiber connections are available in some districts, once a person steps out of their home, his internet access is severely limited.
Further, the option of making online payments at shops in Manipur is no longer available to the public.
When people from outside Manipur visit the State and try to purchase some items through online payment, they are inconvenienced with having to visit the nearest ATM as online payment is not an option anymore, he said.
Saying this, he appealed to the State Government to restore this facility.
According to an official from Bharti Airtel Limited Manipur Branch, the Manipur Home Department lifted the ban on broadband services through an order issued on July 25.Since then, Bharti Airtel Limited Manipur Branch has taken up the task of setting up Airtel Xstream Fiber connections in Government departments, private institutions and various homes.
Notably, these broadband connections were launched on September 21, 2021 in Manipur.
These connections, which are also known as Fiber To The Home (FTTH) were set up in Imphal West, Imphal East, Bishnupur, Thoubal and Churachandpur districts.
So far, 5000 such connections have been established and the company is engaged in setting up many more, said the Airtel official.
It is worth noting here that there is no facility for Airtel Xstream Fiber connections in Senapati, Ukhrul, Tamenglong, Chandel, Kangpokpi, Jiri, Pherzawl, Noney and Tengnoupal districts.
To install an Airtel Xstream Fiber connection, people have the option of paying either Rs 3004 for 6 months (40 Mbps), Rs 2829 (100 Mbps) for 3 months, Rs 3537 (200 Mbps) for 3 months or Rs 5307 (300 mbps) for three months.
Aside from this payment, the connection will be set up for free.
The wait time to get a new connection used to be 20 days but now it has been reduced to just 3/4 days.