Internet ban paralyses Ukhrul scribes
Source: The Sangai Express / Mungchan Zimik
Ukhrul, September 20 2023:
As internet shutdown in Manipur continues with conditional lifting of only the broadband services, reporting news and filing stories have become extremely difficult to the journalists in Ukhrul district.
Notably, the suspension of internet access was imposed on May 3 to prevent spread/circulation of anti-social posts which can incite violence on social media platforms.
Though contemporary society is largely dependent on the internet for financial transactions, educational purposes and to access Government services among others, the Government has shut down the internet in Manipur for over four and a half months.
The shutdown of the internet has had a direct impact on the journalists in Ukhrul district as gathering information and sending stories to their respective publishing houses have become extremely difficult to them.
Currently, journalists in Ukhrul rely only on the Wi-Fi service being provided by the National Information Centre (NIC) at the Mini Secretariat office complex at Hamleikhong, Ukhrul.
Although BSNL broadband services and Mangang internet service providers are available in Ukhrul town, the speed they provide is slow and as such the journalists cannot rely on it.
According to reliable sources, the bandwidth speed of BSNL is 300 Mbps/unit for the whole district and the same is not sufficient to provide broadband services to new customers.
The manager of Mangang Internet Service Provider, Ukhrul, while sharing their problems and issues, said that they could not provide internet connection to the whole town.
According to him, internet is provided through point to point wave transmission and the total speed available to them is not enough to extend their services until optic fibre is laid for new connections.
Correspondent of East Mojo Salle Kapai also shared the difficulties she faces in performing her duty.
She lives at Kaziphung Hungpung about 5 km away from Ukhrul town, and she has to spend Rs 100 daily on travel fare to get internet connection at NIC.
Salle mentioned that the NIC office usually closes at 5 pm and the time limitation is another factor which is hindering the work of journalists in Ukhrul.
Another journalist who stays 3 km away from the NIC office said that he visits the NIC office everyday to get information updated and to file stories.