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The Government is committed to provide access to all people for
basic telecom services at affordable and reasonable prices. The
Government seeks to achieve the following universal service
objectives:
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Provide voice and low speed data
service to the balance 2.9 lac uncovered villages in the country
by the year 2002 |
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Achieve Internet access to all
district head quarters by the year 2000 |
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Achieve telephone on demand in urban
and rural areas by 2002 |
The resources for
meeting the USO would be raised through a ‘universal access levy’
which would be a percentage of the revenue earned by all the
operators under various licences. The percentage of revenue share
towards universal access levy would be decided by the Government in
consultation with TRAI. The implementation of the USO obligation for
rural / remote areas would be undertaken by all fixed service
providers who shall be reimbursed from the funds from the universal
access levy. Other service providers shall also be encouraged to
participate in USO provision subject to technical feasibility and
shall be reimbursed from the funds from the universal access levy.
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