Digitalisation has made it faster than ever to upload and share content across digital platforms. But time travel remained firmly in the realm of make-believe for inhabitants in certain New Delhi districts who woke up to 2010 today, including Kishtwar and sections of Srinagar in Jammu and Kashmir. Mobile internet speeds have been slashed to 2G levels following administrative orders. It’s not a full blackout, but a “digital greyout,” a precaution put into place ahead of planned demonstrations on March 1, 2026.
The Physics of Throttling
For a sense of the impact, you should have some idea of what the distinction is between a shutdown and throttling. A shutdown is a severed cable; nothing goes. It’s like trying to get a thick milkshake through a coffee stirrer; it’s throttling. Technically the data is flowing, but it’s at about 64 kbps to 128 kbps. A typical webpage (2MB to 3MB in size) of content — scrolling a single news article for example — can take minutes to load. Video streaming, UPI payments, and ride-sharing apps—services that depend on quick data handshakes—now become effectively nonexistent.
The Administrative Switch
This tactic allows governments to limit the flow of information without creating the total chaos and blackout that would result. It stops the fast upload of high-res videos or livestreams that could galvanise people, while theoretically leaving basic text communications, such as WhatsApp messages (albeit at a snail’s pace), to get through. It’s a surgical strike on bandwidth. But the collateral damage is the day-to-day economy. Shopkeepers can’t accept QR code payments; students are locked out of Zoom classes; and gig workers can’t get orders.
A Recurring Pattern
This incident is just another entry in a long ledger of countries in the region suspending internet access. It underscores the fragility of digital rights in conflict-torn regions. While the whole world talks about 6G and internet by satellite, these districts are reminded that their connection is compromised. The ‘kill switch’ is not always a button; it can be dialed down just low enough to render use frustrating while keeping the signal active.
