Prepaid connections to be banned in NE from next month

NEW DELHI: Come February 22, millions of pre-paid cellular users in Jammu and Kashmir and northeast states may no longer be able to use their mobile phone connections. The Centre is examining the possibility of banning pre-paid cellular services in security sensitive areas from this date.

Telcos which ET spoke to said that so far the government had given no indication that this deadline would be extended. An executive associated with an operator was of the view that while the Department of Telecom (DoT) is likely to extend the deadline in J&K, it may impose a ban on pre-paid services in northeast.

Officials in the communication ministry say that this is cannot be done at the discretion of DoT. They said the final decision on extending the deadline rested with the home and defence ministries, which would take into account the opinion of security and intelligence agencies.

November end figures show a total of 10 million mobile users in J&K and notheast. The ratio of pre-paid to post paid connections here are not known but nationally, 90% of the country���s 375 million mobile users prefer pre-paid.

Over 95% of new subscribers too choose the same option. Cellular Operators Association of India (COAI), the body representing all GSM players, has already taken up the issue with DoT. ���We had recently brought up this issue with the government and we understand that they are considering our request for an extension,��� COAI director-general T V Ramachandran told ET.

At present, prepaid users from other states are not allowed ���roaming��� while visiting J&K and the northeast. ET has learnt that the Centre has no plans to lift this restriction in the near future. Critics are of the opinion a mere ban on pre-paid connections will not address security issues. People have access to other technologies such as internet telephony, e-mail, internet chat and satellite phones.