Released a Postage Stamp on completion of 20 years of services by Universal Service Obligation Fund (USOF) of Ministry of Communications

The Universal Service Obligation Fund (USOF) is a fund established by the Ministry of Communications in India. Its primary objective is to provide universal access to basic telecommunications services to people in rural and remote areas of the country. The USOF was created under the National Telecom Policy (NTP) in 2002 and is administered by the Department of Telecommunications (DoT).

The USOF is financed through a Universal Service Levy (USL), which is a percentage of the revenue earned by telecom service providers (TSPs) from providing services in India. The levy is determined by the government and collected by the TSPs. The funds collected through the USL are then transferred to the USOF.

The main purpose of the USOF is to bridge the digital divide and ensure that telecommunication services are available to all sections of society, especially in rural and remote areas where private operators may be reluctant to invest due to economic viability concerns. The USOF provides financial support for various projects and initiatives aimed at expanding the telecom infrastructure and improving connectivity in underserved areas.

Some of the key activities supported by the USOF include:

    Establishment of public access points: The fund supports the establishment of public telephony services, internet kiosks, and community service centers in rural areas to provide access to basic telecommunication services.

    Development of telecom infrastructure: The USOF provides financial assistance for the development of telecom infrastructure such as installation of mobile towers, optic fiber cables, and other network components in remote and rural areas.

    Subsidies for rural connectivity: The fund provides subsidies to telecom service providers to encourage them to extend their networks to underserved areas where it may not be financially viable for them to operate.

    Promotion of broadband services: The USOF promotes the rollout of broadband services in rural areas by providing financial support for the establishment of broadband infrastructure and the provision of affordable broadband services.

    Capacity building and awareness programs: The fund supports initiatives aimed at building digital literacy and creating awareness about the benefits of ICT (Information and Communication Technology) services in rural areas.

The USOF plays a crucial role in ensuring that telecommunication services reach the underserved and unserved areas of India, thus enabling socio-economic development and bridging the digital divide between urban and rural areas.
 

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