The Universal Service Fund (USF) has received a total of Rs 131.298 billion from telecom operators since it was founded, according to official data.
Official records show that since its inception, the Universal Service Fund (USF) has spent Rs 90.670 billion on delivering telecom services to the country’s unserved and underserved areas, leaving Rs 71.06 billion available.
In order to provide the cellular, broadband internet, fibre optic, and other telecommunication services to underserved or unserved areas, the USF was established in 2007 as a result of the Telecom Act Amendment of 2006. The USF has been given 1.5% of the revenue from all telecom companies.
The Universal Service Fund (USF) has received a total of Rs 131.298 billion from telecom operators since it was founded, according to official data.
The Pakistan Telecommunication Authority gave the USF Rs 12.411 billion, and the USF then earned Rs 17.366 billion in interest on investments and bank balance (PTA).
Interest declines starting in 2016. Additionally, the Universal Service Fund (USF) owns shares of AJK USF worth Rs 653.87 million that are payable to AJK.
The USF received Rs 161.730 billion in total but spent Rs 90.670 billion. The Ministry of Finance has 57.210 billion rupees in funds, and the Public Account has 13.850 billion rupees. The net fund is 71.06 billion rupees.
The USF spent Rs 18.750 billion in 2021–2022 and received Rs 14.784 billion in 2013–2014, respectively. In the entire nation, USF is the designated organisation for telecom services. In accordance with the voice and high-speed broadband data services programme (3G/4G), USF has started or is planning a number of projects.
The documents also showed that 42.3 billion rupees worth of projects are being carried out, while numerous projects are being planned for underserved and unserved populations in rural and remote areas across the nation.
The time frames for completion vary and can be anywhere between six months and 18 months, depending on the size of the project targets.