Ban on fibre internet lifted, conditions galore
Source: Chronicle News Service
Imphal, July 25 2023:
Following a directive of the High Court of Manipur to allow restoration of internet ser vices via Internet Lease Line (ILL) and Fiber To The Home (FTTH), internet services in the state has been partially lifted with the government imposing various conditions and restrictions to the permitted subscribers.
Though internet services through fibre networks have been restored, mobile internet services remain suspended.
In an order issued Tuesday, home commissioner T Ranjit Singh stated that suspension of internet services via broadband service (ILL and FTTH) has been lifted conditionally in a liberalised manner subject to fulfilment of certain terms and conditions.
Internet partially restored in Manipur, broadband allowed but no mobile internet Commissioner Ranjit elaborated that the government has made considered decision to lift suspension in case of broadband service subject to fulfilment of 10 conditions, including that connection has to be only through static IR .
The order said that the government decided to keep suspension of mobile internet data as preparedness for having effective control and regulatory mechanism for mobile data service as there are still apprehensions about spread of disinformation and false rumours, through various social media platforms such as Whatsapp, Facebook, Instagram, Twitter etc.
"Connection will be only through static IP and that the subscriber concerned shall not accept any other connection other than allowed for the time being (TSP/ISP shall be held responsible for non-compliance of this condition)," it said.
"No Wifi Hotspots shall be allowed from any of the routers and systems using the connection at any cost by the subscriber concerned," it said.
The order said that blocking of social media websites and VPNs at the local level must be ensured by the subscribers, and log-in IDs and passwords must be changed on a daily basis.
In case of any violation, the subscribers will be punished as per laws, it said.
Using electronic equipment like tablets, computer, mobile phone, etc., bulk SMS and other messages can be spread for facilitating or mobilisation of mobs of agitators and demonstrators, which can cause loss of life or damage to public and private property by indulging in arson and vandalism and other types of violent activities for which the control mechanism is still poor, it said.
The order mentioned that the government reviewed issues of the ban on internet since May 3 continuously without any break (except for the exempted cases) and considered the suffering of the common people as the internet ban had affected important offices, institutions, cohort of people on work from home basis, chartered accountants firms, lawyers, health facilities, refuelling centres, recharging of electricity, mobile, booking for LPG, educational institutions, taxation related offices, other online based citizen centric services, etc.
The state government has taken up the initiative after the high court on July 9 ordered the state authorities to lift the internet ban on In ternet Lease Line (ILL) and Fiber To The Home (FTTH)
connections after ensuring that all the stakeholders have complied with the safeguards suggested by a 12-member expert committee.
Justices Ahanthem Bimo] Singh and Guneshwar Sharma passed the order after several public interest litigations (PILs) were filed by various parties including Airtel, Reliance, Jio, Vodafone, and BSNL seeking the restoration of internet in Manipur.
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