The Union Cabinet chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi has given approval for provision of a Universal Service Obligation Fund (USOF) Scheme for providing mobile coverage in Arunachal Pradesh and two districts of Assam, namely Karbi Anglong and Dima Hasao, under the Comprehensive Telecom Development Plan (CTDP) for North-Eastern Region.
The project envisages to provide mobile coverage to 2,374 uncovered villages (1,683 in Arunachal Pradesh and 691 in two districts of Assam) at an estimated cost of around Rs 2,029 crore including operational expenses for five years.
The project, funded by USOF, is targeted to be completed by December 2022.
The work related to provision of 4G mobile services in identified uncovered villages will be awarded through open competitive bidding process as per extant USOF procedures.
The provisioning of mobile services in the remote and difficult uncovered areas of Arunachal Pradesh and Assam will enhance digital connectivity useful for self-reliance, facilitate learning, skill upgradation and development, disaster management, e-governance initiatives, establishment of enterprises and e-commerce facilities, provision of adequate support to educational institutes and availability of job opportunities.
