SMS service banned for postpaid subscribers in Jammu and Kashmir

The Short Message System (SMS) services in the state of Jammu and Kashmir have been abandoned by the government so as to reduce terrorism. The Union Department of Telecommunications, Ministry of Communications & IT has sent directives to 12 Unified Access Services (UAS) and Cellular Mobile Telephone Service (CMTS) licensees.

The companies that have been given the circular are-Bharat Sanchar Nigam Ltd., Bharti Airtel Limited, Dishnet Wireless Ltd, Reliance Communications Ltd., Vodafone Essar Spacetel Ltd., Datacom Solutions Pvt. Ltd., Idea Cellular Ltd., Loop Telecom Pvt. Ltd., S Tel Pvt. Ltd., Sistema Shyam Teleservices Ltd., Tata Teleservices Ltd. and Unitech Wireless (North) Pvt. Ltd

The authority has ordered the cellular agencies to seize tariff packages of providing free SMS in the state. The circular by the government reads, “SMS messages originated outside J&K service area in India and from the networks of ILD operators should not be delivered to mobile subscribers in J&K service area.”

It added, “The number of outgoing SMSs is 10 SMS per day per subscriber in the case of prepaid subscribers in J&K service area.”

This order has been passes after the police of Kashmir failed in cross-checking credentials of the users. The police had found that around two dozen SIM cards were in use by militants for destructive activities.

The circular said, “In case of bulk SMS connection/facility/SMS interface given to the telemarketers/users with regard to J&K, this facility will no longer be available. Until further directions nobody/no organization/no agency will be given facility for sending bulk SMS through any portal to the subscribers in J&K. Facility to the existing users is to be immediately withdrawn.”