Rs21b broadband, optic fibre projects approved

The Universal Service Fund (USF) board has approved the award of 10 contracts worth Rs21 billion for the provision of information technology and mobile broadband services to the un-served and underserved communities in all provinces of the country.

High-speed mobile broadband projects for highways and motorways and optic fibre cable projects will provide 4G Long-Term Evolution (LTE) connectivity and backhaul connectivity to 3.5 million people. The projects will connect 187 Union Councils with 1,554 km of optic fibre cable and ensure seamless connectivity with 622 km
of un-served road segments on the M-8 motorway and N-35 highway.

Ministry of IT and Telecommunication Additional Secretary and USF Board Chairman Mohsin Mushtaq Chandna chaired the 83rd USF board of directors meeting on Saturday.

Federal Minister of IT and Telecommunication Syed Aminul Haque, in his message on the occasion, said “the Ministry of IT through USF has taken another concrete step to fulfil the vision of Digital Pakistan. We are on the path of ‘Meaningful Connectivity and Smartphone for All Policy’.”

He added “these projects will enhance social equality, employment opportunities and digital literacy for the people of un-served and underserved areas and strengthen the foundations of our digital infrastructure. We are the frontrunner in creating information-rich communities and accelerating socio-economic growth in the country.”

Speaking in the meeting, Additional Secretary Mohsin Mushtaq Chandna boasted that the USF had delivered a record performance in the past four years by offering contracts for 79 projects costing Rs62.7 billion.

Published in The Express Tribune, September 25^th, 2022.

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