Lok Sabha
A scheme has been launched by Universal Service Obligation Fund (USOF) for provision of subsidy support for setting up and managing 7,871 number of infrastructure sites (towers) for providing mobile services spread across 500 districts in 27 States. A Group of Districts with two or more Districts have been clubbed together to constitute a Cluster for the purpose of bidding. Each cluster has been assigned a unique Cluster Number of 81 such Clusters have been formed in the country for setting up these towers.
A total number of 2,12,304 villages are likely to be covered under the Scheme. USOF has entered into an agreement with the successful bidders, which has become effective from June 1, 2007. Mobile services through these shared towers are targeted to be made operational in a phased manner by May, 2008.
This information was given in the Lok Sabha today by Dr. Shakeel Ahmad, Minister of State for Communications and Information Technology in a written reply to a question by Shri Haribhau Rathod.
****
SRK/VN
(Release ID :30151)