Fy14: USF disburses record Rs4.2b subsidy

KARACHI: Universal Service Fund (USF) has made a landmark achievement by disbursing subsidy of Rs4.2 billion in fiscal year 2013-14 for its projects that would provide telecom services across the country. It is the highest amount of subsidy disbursed in any financial year by USF. In Rural Telecom Programme, USF has aggressively been working to provide basic telephony and data services which includes areas where people had to walk kilometres to make a single phone call. Broadband services have been provided in 288 second- and third-tier cities and towns along with providing more than 520,000 broadband connections. Broadband Programme also includes establishment of 1,100 Educational Broadband Centres (EBCs) in higher secondary schools and colleges and more than 300 Community Broadband Centres (CBCs) for people who cannot afford to have their own computers.

Published in The Express Tribune, July 17^th, 2014.

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