UNIVERSAL SERVICE OBLIGATION FUND

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Context - The Union Government has approved the Universal Service Obligation Fund (USOF) project for upgrading 2G mobile services to 4G in Left Wing Extremism (LWE) areas.

Details

• The Information and Broadcasting Minister has said that this initiative will promote better internet and data services in these Left Wing Extremism (LWE) areas.
• Under the project, 2,542 mobile towers will be upgraded for providing 4G services at a cost of Rs 2,426 crore in 10 states including Uttar Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand, Odisha and Maharashtra.
  • All the selected sites will be upgraded by BSNL.
• The Union Cabinet has approved the Amalgamation of Consultancy Development Centre (CDC) with the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research of the Department of Scientific and Industrial Research.
• The Union Cabinet has approved the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed between India and Chile for cooperation in the Disability Sector.
• The Cabinet also approved the opening of a new Indian Mission in Lithuania in 2022.
  • It will help to expand India’s diplomatic footprint, deepen political relations and strategic cooperation, and enable the growth of bilateral trade, investment and economic engagements.

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Universal Service Obligation Fund

• Under the New Telecom Policy (NTP) of 1999, the Department of Telecom introduced Universal Service as one of its main objectives.
• The main objective is to provide a balance between the Universal Service to all uncovered areas, including the rural areas, and areas of high-level services.
• It aims to support the country's economy and encourage the development of telecommunication facilities in remote, hilly and tribal areas of the country.
• The New Telecom Policy (NTP) of 1999, provided that the resources for meeting the Universal Service Obligation (USO) were to be generated through a Universal Access Levy (UAL), at a prescribed percentage (at present 5%) of the revenue earned by the telecom licensees to be decided in consultation with the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI).
• The Universal Service Support Policy came into effect in April 2002.
• The Indian Telegraph (Amendment) Act, 2003 giving statutory status to the Universal Service Obligation Fund (USOF) was passed by both Houses of Parliament in December 2003.
• As per the Indian Telegraph Act 1885 (as amended in 2003, 2006), the Fund is to be utilized exclusively for meeting the Universal Service Obligation.
• The vision of the Universal Service Obligation Fund is to provide affordable access to a reliable and ubiquitous telecommunications network to all rural Indians which in return help them achieve their fullest potential.

Schemes run by USOF

1. BharatNet aim is to provide broadband connectivity to all the gram panchayats of the country. The project was approved in 2011. It is expected to be completed in 2023.
2. Optical Fibre Cable for North East.
3. Submarine Cable Connectivity to Andaman and Nicobar Islands (CANI).

https://newsonair.gov.in/News?title=Cabinet-approves-upgradation-of-2G-mobile-sites-to-4G-in-Left-Wing-Extremism-areas&id=439949