PM Modi Led Cabinet Approves USOF Scheme For Provision Of 4G Mobile Services In 7,287 Uncovered Villages Across Five States

Prime Minister Narendra Modi led Union Cabinet on Wednesday (17 November) approved the Universal Service Obligation Fund (USOF) scheme for provisioning of 4G mobile services in uncovered villages in aspirational districts across five states.

"The Project envisages to provide 4G based mobile services in the 7,287 uncovered villages of 44 Aspirational Districts across five States of Andhra Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand, Maharashtra & Odisha at an estimated cost of implementation about Rs 6,466 crore including operational expenses for 5 years," an official release said on Wednesday.

The project would be funded by Universal Service Obligation Fund (USOF). and wil be completed within 18 months after the signing of the Agreement. It is likely to be completed by November 2023, according to the release.

The work related to provision of 4G mobile services in identified uncovered villages will be awarded through open competitive bidding process as per extant USOF procedures, it added.

"The present proposal for provisioning of mobile services in the remote and difficult uncovered areas of Aspirational Districts across five states of Andhra Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand, Maharashtra and Odisha will enhance digital connectivity useful for self-reliance, facilitate learning, dissemination of information and knowledge, skill upgradation and development, disaster management, e-Governance initiatives, establishment of enterprises and e-commerce facilities, provision of adequate support to educational institutes for knowledge sharing & availability of job opportunity and fulfilling the vision of Digital India promoting domestic manufacturing and fulfilling the objectives of Atmanirbhar Bharat etc," the release said.