What happened
The Department of Telecommunications (DoT) activated emergency measures to maintain telecom service continuity in Jammu & Kashmir, Assam and Nagaland after severe weather disrupted communication networks. DoT instructed all Telecom Service Providers to enable Intra-Circle Roaming (ICR) in the following districts: Jammu & Kashmir (Poonch and Rajouri), Assam (Sibsagar, Charaideo and Jorhat), and Nagaland (Mon).
Background and earlier position
Intra-Circle Roaming (ICR) is a telecom arrangement that enables a mobile subscriber to connect to another operator’s network within the same telecom circle when their home operator’s coverage is unavailable in a specific area. During natural disasters, telecom connectivity can fail due to damage to mobile infrastructure, so ICR can be used to provide an interim connectivity channel while restoration work proceeds.
What changed now
DoT issued directions for ICR activation specifically in the disaster-affected districts of Jammu & Kashmir, Assam and Nagaland. The ICR activation route enables subscribers in those districts to automatically access an alternative available network, and also extends to subscribers visiting these districts from other parts of the country.
Related current affairs
- DoT activates Intra-Circle Roaming (ICR) in disaster-affected districts of Nagaland, Gujarat and UT Dadra & Nagar Haveli and Daman & Diu
- HC notice to Assam, Nagaland on plea linking illegal mining to floods
- Assam govt. working to make State flood-resilient, says CM
- Govt releasing its share of SDRF disaster funds to seven flood-affected States
- Assam flood: death toll reaches 80, over 2 lakh people hit in 8 districts
- ‘Not even our grandfathers saw this’: Upper Assam reels as floods wash away villages (with photo caption)