GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF COMMUNICATIONS AND INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY
LOK SABHA
UNSTARREDQUESTION NO: 265
ANSWERED ON: 1.08.2011
INCENTIVES TO TELECOM SECTOR
(a) Whether the Government proposes to offer more incentives to the telecom sector for increasing tele density, both for landline and mobiles;
(b) if so, the details thereof;
(c) whether some telecom operators have approached the Government to grant some more incentives; (d)if so, the details thereof;
(e) whether the Government has set up a committee to look into the cases of delay in rolling out mobile services under the Universal Service Obligation Fund (USOF);
(f) if so, the details thereof alongwith the composition and terms of reference of the committee; and
(g) the time by which the committee is likely to submit its report?
ANSWER
THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF COMMUNICATIONS AND INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY ( SHRI MILIND DEORA)
(a) to (d) Under various schemes of Universal Services Obligation Fund (USOF) financial support is provided for extending telecom service to rural and remote areas which contribute to increase in teledensity in these areas. These schemes include provision of fixed line telephones as well as creation of infrastructure for provision of mobile services in rural and remote areas.
(e) Yes Madam.
(f) A Committee consisting of following members has been set up by Hon’ble Minister of Communications Information Technology on 15th July, 2011 to consider all aspects of delay in roll out of mobile services under Shared Mobile Infrastructure Scheme of USOF and suggest appropriate action that may be reuired to be taken in the facts and circumstances of the case :
(i) Secretary (Telecom), Chairman of the Committee
(ii) Member (Technology)
(iii) Member (Finance)
(iv) Administrator, USO Fund (v) Sr. DDG(AS), DoT
(vi) Jt. Administrator(Technical), USO Fund
(vi) Jt. Administrator(Finance), USO Fund
(vii) Legal Advisor (Telecom)
(g) The Committee is to complete the exercise and submit its report within a period of eight weeks.