USF approves Rs11b internet projects for under-served districts

High-speed mobile broadband to facilitate 4.4 million people.

ISLAMABAD:

The Universal Service Fund (USF) board has approved 10 projects worth Rs11.5 billion to provide high-speed internet service and optical fiber projects to top tourist destinations including Kumrat Valley, Swat and 19 unserved and under-served districts of Sindh, Balochistan, Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa and Punjab.

On the advice of Federal Minister for Information Technology (IT) and Telecommunication Syed Aminul Haque, the USF board approved award of high-speed mobile broadband contracts, which would facilitate around 4.4 million people. The decision was taken by the USF meeting of the board of directors.

Addressing the session, Federal Secretary for IT and Telecommunication and USF Board Chairman Dr Muhammad Sohail Rajput maintained that though USF was established 15 years ago, the pace of implementation of projects in the first 12 years was slow.

Read Alternate arrangements being made by service providers in Pakistan for internet connectivity

“In the last three years since the current government took charge, especially in the last two years, a record 37 projects worth over Rs31 billion have been contracted; in FY 2019-20, 12 projects were contracted, in FY 2020-21, 25 projects were contracted and in FY 2020-21, we plan to contract 28 projects,” Rajput said.

“This reflects the exemplary leadership of federal IT minister who is working day and night to fulfill the premier’s Digital Pakistan vision and Connectivity for all Policy,” he added.

“It is important that USF continues to bridge the digital divide and ensure timely completion of all projects going forward.”