The government will soon unveil a new scheme to provide mobile phone access to over 55,000 villages, particularly those in border states and in the Himalayan region, to push forward its flagship Digital India programme. The scheme will be funded by the Universal Service Obligation Fund (USOF),” a senior telecom ministry official said on condition of anonymity. The USOF, which is maintained by the government, was formed to help fund projects to boost connectivity in rural areas. Further, 5,41,939 villages out of total 5,97,608 villages in the country are already covered with mobile services, leaving 55,669 villages, i.e., 9.31 per cent, without coverage. The Centre is also in middle of executing the Bharat Net project which aims to connect all of India’s households, particularly in rural areas, through broadband by 2017.

Source: The Hindu September 04, 2016 17:26 UTC