Imphal: Manipur Home Department lifted the record 82-day long internet ban since May 3, 2023 with immediate effect from Tuesday. The lifting of internet ban conditionally will majorly benefit Broadband Service (Internet Lease Line and Fibre to the Home) which was earlier suspended.
However, ban on Mobile Data Services and internet/data services through VPN will continue in Manipur owing to reports of incidents of violence, attacking and arson of houses and premises including exchange of firing as per Director General of Police, Manipur vide letter No. IC/11(163)/2008-PHO(Pt/01449 dated 24-07-2023, said the order.
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The order dated July 25, 2023
- And whereas, the State Government has reviewed the issues of the ban on internet since
03-05-2023 continuously without any break (except for the exempted cases) and considered the suffering of the Common as the internet ban had affected important offices/ institutions, cohort of people on work from home basis, chartered Accountant 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. - Whereas, the State Government has made considered decision to lift suspension in case of Broadband service (ILL and FTTH) conditionally in a liberalised manner subject to fulfilment of the following terms and conditions and taking up with all possible safeguards:
a. 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];
b. No Wifi Hotspots shall be allowed from any of the routers and systems using the connection at any cost by the subscriber concerned;
c. Media Access Control Address (MAC) binding at the system level or router shall be ensured with the help of ISP/TSP concerned;
d. Blocking of social media websites and VPNs at the local level will be ensured by the subscriber concerned;
e. Shall have to ensure removal of any existing VPNs softwares from the system and not to install any new softwares/ VPN App by the subscriber concerned;
f. Enforcing Physical Monitoring by subscriber concerned / the concerned authority/ officials of checking violation of the terms and conditions specified;
g. Changing of log in ID and Password for respective system on daily basis: and
h. Will obey all orders/ Regulations regarding any change in the condition under which service is being allowed issued by the State Government from time to time by the subscriber concerned.
i. Further, in the event of any violation, subscriber concerned will be liable to be punished as per provisions of relevant laws of the land in force and that I also agree to be fixed personally responsible for any leakage/ activities done by any Secondary user of internet, in case Wifi/ Hotspot had been activated without approval of Home Department from my system/ router.
j. ISP shall ensure to obtain undertaking to the extent as explained above before giving any internet connection in the prescribed format (enclosed herewith) without fail. - Whereas, the State Government decides to keep suspension of Mobile Internet data under Rule 2 of Temporary Suspension of Telecom Services (Public Emergency or Public Safety) Rules, 2017 as the preparedness for having effective control and regulatory mechanism for Mobile data service is not technically feasible and there are still apprehensions that the spread of disinformation and false rumours, through various social media platform such as Whatsapp, Facebook, Instagram, Twitter etc. on electronic equipments like tablet, computer, mobile phone etc and sending bulk SMS, for facilitating and/or mobilization of mobs of agitators and demonstrators, which cause loss of life and/or damage to public/private property by indulging in arsonvandalism and other types of violent activities for which the control mechanism is still poor.
- Now, therefore, earlier suspension of internet services on Broadband service (ILL and FTTH) is lifted conditionally in a liberalised manner subiect to fulfilment of the above terms and conditions.
- Further, the undersigned, under the power conferred under Rule 2 of Temporary Suspension of Telecom Services (Public Emergency or Public Safety) Rules, 2017, having satisfied that the above situation do hereby order further suspension/curbing of mobile data services, internet/data servicesthrough VPN in the territorial jurisdiction of the State of Manipur. All Mobile Service providers are hereby directed to ensure compliance of this order.
- The order is being passed ex-parte in view of the emergent situation. It shall be published for the information of public through press and electronic media.
- This issues with the approval of Competent Authority with immediate effect. Al concerned are directed to comply with the orders.
- Any person found guilty for violation of aforesaid orders will be liable for legal action.
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