Second ban on data services on account of MU crisis
One hour stoppage costs Rs 130 crore: Report
Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, September 22 2018:
Many are raising concerns regarding stoppage of internet services by mobile service providers in the State since yesterday based on the instruction of the State Government, which has resulted in immense inconveniences in business and other transactions of the people.
The ban of mobile internet service for five days since yesterday is the second such ban on internet as a result of the crisis at Manipur University.
It may be mentioned that the State Government had banned internet services in the State from July 20 to 24 with the reported aim of curbing spread of rumours and false news among the people.
However, for Manipur, this is the fourth time that the Government has put a leash on internet services.
The first incident happened on September 2, 2015, following the Churachandpur incident.
At that time, every mobile internet and broadband services, except some BSNL lines, were completely cut off.
In the second incident, the DCs of Imphal East and Imphal West completely cut off mobile internet services in the two districts for 12 days in December 2016, fearing possible law and order situation following the indefinite blockade imposed by the UNC.
In the third incident, the State Home Department, under rule 2 of Temporary Suspension of Telecom Services (Public Emergency or Public Safety) Rules 2017, cut off mobile internet services from midnight of July 19 for five days following protest by MUSU demanding removal of AP Pandey from the post of VC of Manipur University, violence between security forces and protesters towards the end of a two day general strike and circulation of fake videos and message in social media.
The current phase of internet ban came into effect yesterday after security personnel carried out a raid at the boys hostels of Manipur University and arrested many students and teachers.
According to reports received by The Sangai Express, the Temporary Suspension of Telecom Services (Public Emergency or Public Safety) Rules 2017, which the State Government uses to ban internet services at its whim and fancy, falls under Indian Telegraph Act 1895 .
It came into effect following a notification issued by the Ministry of Communication, on August 7 last year.
The notification mentioned that the Central Government or the State Government also has to form a review committee which is chaired by the Chief Secretary and has the Secretary (Law) and Secretary (Home) as members.
It explained that if internet service is banned, the committee, has to review the situation within five days.
However, when it comes to Manipur, it is uncertain whether such a review committee has been formed or not and the paper is yet to find any orders related to the formation of such a committee till date.
On the other hand, various reports mention that internet service has been stopped for a total of 16,315 hours for all India in the last six years which resulted in a loss of Rs 21,336 to the country's economy.
If calculated per hour, the country loses around Rs 1,30,77,536 per hour due to stoppage of internet.
The reports informed that the number of internet users in the country has climbed by around 32.4 percent during the last four-five years, compared to 60 percent in China, 20 percent in Japan, 14 percent in US and 63 percent in Brazil.
The initial number of internet users in India was around 9.2 crores before it shot up to around 39 crores.
The reports also pointed out that the State with the most number of internet service stoppage was Jammu and Kashmir.
For India, an increase by 10 percent in internet traffic results in an increase of 3.1 percent in the per capita GDP of the country, the reports added.
Comment
