Description
Copyright infringement not intended
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
- 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.
- Optical Fibre Cable for North East.
- 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
