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Our Bureau

New Delhi , Oct. 16

The Cabinet has approved extension of financial support from the Universal Service Obligation Fund (USOF) to mobile telecom operators to create infrastructure in rural and remote areas, the Minister for Information and Broadcasting, Mr P.R. Dasmunshi, told newspersons after the meeting. Around 10,000 towers would be set up countrywide, he said. The new infrastructure would be shared by a maximum of three operators.

The funds would be used for creation of infrastructure such as tower, power supply and back-up in rural and remote areas which are not covered by wireless signals, Mr Dasmunshi said.

Till now, USOF provided funds for only basic telecom operators for offering fixed line services in rural areas.

The new infrastructure would also be utilised for providing broadband connectivity to the villages, he said.

For this, the Indian Telegraph (Amendment) Ordinance, 2006, would be promulgated and would be placed in the next session of the Parliament, Mr Dasmunshi said.

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