Differences

This shows you the differences between two versions of the page.

--- country-profiles:india [2021/08/31 07:19] – [Backhaul] Policy_Raj
+++ country-profiles:india [2021/08/31 07:56] – [Table] Policy_Raj
@@ Line 299: / Line 299: @@
 =====Backhaul=====
-‘Bharat Net’ project, earlier known as National Optical Fibre Network (NOFN), is a flagship project of Government of India which aims to connect 2.5 lakh Gram Panchayats  of India through optical fibre network. Viewed as the first pillar of ‘Digital India’ Programme, Bharat Net Project is claimed to be the largest rural broadband connectivity project through optical fibre. (( [[https://dot.gov.in/telecom-glance | DoT, Telecom at a Glance ]] )) The connectivity under this project is ‘middle-mile’ connectivity: laying of incremental fibre from Block HQs to Gram Panchayats to fill the connectivity gap.
+‘Bharat Net’ project, earlier known as National Optical Fibre Network (NOFN), is a flagship project of Government of India which aims to connect 2.5 lakh Gram Panchayats  of India through optical fibre network. Viewed as the first pillar of ‘Digital India’ Programme (( [[https://dot.gov.in/telecom-glance | DoT, Telecom at a Glance ]] )) BharatNet project aims to provide connectivity for ‘middle-mile’ : laying of incremental fibre from Block HQs to Gram Panchayats to fill the connectivity gap.
 <callout type="default" icon="true">
@@ Line 325: / Line 326: @@
 ** Table: Internet Exchange Points in India** (( Adapted from https://innog.net/resources/ixps/))
-^Name of IXP^Website^Locations^
+^ Name of IXP   ^ Website                      ^ Locations                                                                      ^
-|NIXI| http://nixi.in	|Noida, Mumbai, Chennai, Kolkata, Bangalore, Hyderabad, Ahmedabad and Guwahati|
+| NIXI          | http://nixi.in               | Noida, Mumbai, Chennai, Kolkata, Bangalore, Hyderabad, Ahmedabad and Guwahati  |
-|Mumbai IX|	https://www.mumbai-ix.net 	|Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai, and Kolkata|
+| Mumbai IX     |  https://www.mumbai-ix.net   | Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai, and Kolkata                                            |
-|Extreme IX	|https://extreme-ix.org 	|Mumbai, Delhi, Hyderabad, Chennai and Kolkata|
+| Extreme IX    | https://extreme-ix.org       | Mumbai, Delhi, Hyderabad, Chennai and Kolkata                                  |
-|AMS-IX India|	https://www.ams-ix.net /in	|Mumbai|
+| AMS-IX India  |  https://www.ams-ix.net /in  | Mumbai                                                                         |
-|IIFON	|http://iifon.org 	|Kolkata|
+| IIFON         | http://iifon.org             | Kolkata                                                                        |
-|BharatIX	|https://www.bharatix.net |	Mumbai|
+| BharatIX      | https://www.bharatix.net     |                                                                         Mumbai |
 Of the IXPs listed above,  National Internet Exchange of India (NIXI) was set up by the government. It  was set up in 2003 //for peering of ISPs among themselves for the purpose of routing the domestic traffic within the country, instead of taking it all the way to US/Abroad, thereby resulting in better quality of service (reduced latency) and reduced bandwidth charges for ISPs by saving on International Bandwidth.// ((Reproduced from https://www.nixi.in/en/about-us ))
@@ Line 338: / Line 339: @@
 ===== Gender =====
-===== Universal Service =====
+=====Universal Service=====
+The [[ https://dot.gov.in/national-telecom-policy-1994 | New Telecom Policy (NTP) 1994 ]] , the first telecom policy statement of India, mentioned universal availability of basic telecom services to all villages as one of its objectives. (( Section 2, [[ https://dot.gov.in/national-telecom-policy-1994 | NTP, 1994]] )) However, a more concrete and clearer framework for Universal Service was seen in the [[ https://dot.gov.in/new-telecom-policy-1999 | New Telecommunication Policy (NTP), 1999]] : NTP 1999 had a section dedicated to the Universal Service Obligations (USO) . (( See Section 6.0, [[https://dot.gov.in/new-telecom-policy-1999 | NTP, 1999]] ))
+<callout type="default" icon="true">
+NTP 1999 explicitly mentioned Universal Service as an important objective:  //...Strive to provide a balance between the provision of universal service to all uncovered areas, including the rural areas, and the provision of high-level services capable of meeting the needs of the country's economy; Encourage development of telecommunication facilities in remote, hilly and tribal areas of the country // ((Reproduced from Section 2.0, [[ https://dot.gov.in/new-telecom-policy-1999 | NTP, 1999]] ))
+</callout>
+NTP 1999 provided that a ‘Universal Access Levy (UAL)’ be raised from all operators under various licences to meet the resource requirement for Universal Service Obligation (USO). ((Section 6.0,  [[ https://dot.gov.in/new-telecom-policy-1999 | NTP, 1999]] )). This levy is calculated as a percentage of the revenue earned by the operators, and this percentage is decided by the Government in consultation with TRAI. ((Section 6.0,  [[ https://dot.gov.in/new-telecom-policy-1999 | NTP, 1999]] )) At present, USO Levy is 5 percent of the AGR. ((Source: Section 18.2, [[https://dot.gov.in/sites/default/files/Unified%20Licence_0.pdf | License Agreement for Unified License]] ))
+To further the objective enshrined in NTP 1999, DoT issued the guidelines for ‘Universal Service Support Policy’ in 2002 ((http://usof.gov.in/usof-cms/usof-history.jsp )), and a Universal Service Obligation Fund (USOF) was constituted. USOF was accorded statutory status through The Indian Telegraph (Amendment) Act 2003, and subsequently the rules for administration of USOF  known as Indian Telegraph (Amendment) Rules, 2004 were notified on 26.03.2004. ((https://dot.gov.in/universal-service-obligation-fund-usof ))
+<callout type="default" icon="true">
+ Definition of Universal Service Obligations as per Indian Telegraph Act: //“Universal Service Obligation” means the obligation to provide access to telegraph services to people in the rural and remote areas at affordable and reasonable prices.//
+ </callout>
+NTP 2012 laid the foundation for National Optical Fibre Network (NOFN), which is considered to be the most prominent service supported by USO. NTP 2012 provided that the optical fibre network will be laid up to the Village Panchayat by funding from the USOF. ((para 1.3 in Section IV , p.8 of 20, [[ http://www.dot.gov.in/sites/default/files/NTP-06.06.2012-final.pdf | NTP 2012 ]] )) Accordingly, Indian Telegraph Rules 1951 was amended to insert a section on NOFN. (( [[ http://usof.gov.in/usof-cms/miscellaneous/Indian%20Telegraph%20Rules%202012.PDF | Indian Telegraph (Amendment) Rules, 2012 ]] ))
+NOFN is one example of a service supported by USOF. As per Indian Telegraph (Amendment) Rules 2004 (amended further in 2006 and 2008) , USOF supports a range of services segregated in six different streams.
+**Table: Services Supported by USOF** ((Adapted from http://usof.gov.in/usof-cms/usof-stream.jsp ))
+^ Stream of Service^ Sub-Streams/ Explanations^ Key Projects under each stream and Link to the Project^
+|Stream-I: Provision of Public Access Service| (a) Operation and Maintenance of Village Public Telephones (VPT) in the revenue villages identified as per Census 1991 and Installation of VPTs in the additional revenue villages as per Census 2001; (b) Provision of Rural Community Phones (RCPs) after achieving the target of one VPT in every revenue village where in a village the population is more than 2000 and no public call office (PCO) exists, a second public phone shall be installed;  (c) Replacement of Multi Access Radio Relay Technology (MARR) VPTs installed before the 1st day of April 2002| [[http://usof.gov.in/usof-cms/o-m-vpt.jsp| O&M of VPTs]], [[http://usof.gov.in/usof-cms/vpt-pahes-I.jsp | New VPTs Phase 1]], [[ http://usof.gov.in/usof-cms/vpt-pahes-II.jsp | New VPTs Phase 2]]; [[http://usof.gov.in/usof-cms/RCP.jsp | Rural Community Phones (RCPs) ]] |
+|Stream-II: Provision of Household Telephones in Rural and Remote Areas as may be Determined by the Central Government from Time to Time| (a) For rural household Direct Exchange Lines (RDELs) installed prior to 1st day of April, 2002, support towards the difference in rental actually charged from rural subscribers and rent prescribed by Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) for such subscribers shall be reimbursed until such time the ADC prescribed by TRAI from time to time takes into account this difference. Also following the phasing out of the ADC Regime, support for a limited duration of three years for rural wire line RDELs installed prior to 01.04.02;  (b) Support for RDELs installed after the 1st day of April, 2002 | [[http://usof.gov.in/usof-cms/RDEL_P.jsp | RDELs prior to 1.04.02 ]]; [[http://usof.gov.in/usof-cms/RDEL_B.jsp | RDELs 1.04.03 to 31.03.05]]; [[http://usof.gov.in/usof-cms/RDEL_A_X.jsp | RDELs w.e.f. 31.03.05]] |
+|Stream-III: Creation of Infrastructure for provision of Mobile Services in Rural and Remote Areas. | The assets constituting the infrastructure for provision of mobile services shall be determined by the Central Government from time to time.| [[http://usof.gov.in/usof-cms/Mobile_Infrasrure_Scheme.jsp | Mobile Infrastructure Phase 1 ]]; [[http://usof.gov.in/usof-cms/LWE.jsp | Left Wing Extremism (LWE) Areas]] ; [[http://usof.gov.in/usof-cms/amarnath.jsp | AmarNath]] |
+|Stream-IV: Provision of Broadband Connectivity to rural & remote areas in a phased manner.|-|[[http://usof.gov.in/usof-cms/usof-wireline-broadband.jsp | Wireline Broadband ]]|
+|Stream-V: Creation of General Infrastructure in Rural and Remote Areas for Development of Telecommunication facilities.| The items of general infrastructure to be taken up for development shall be determined by the Central Government from time to time.|[[http://usof.gov.in/usof-cms/OFC_Assam.jsp | CSC Wi-Fi Choupal ]]; [[http://usof.gov.in/usof-cms/OFC_Assam.jsp | OFC for Assam ]]; [[http://usof.gov.in/usof-cms/OFC_NE_I.jsp | OFC for NE I ]]; [[http://usof.gov.in/usof-cms/OFC_NE_II.jsp | OFC for NE II ]]; [[http://usof.gov.in/usof-cms/NOFN.jsp | National Optical Fibre Network with BBNL]]|
+|Stream-VI: Induction of new technological developments in the telecom sector in Rural and Remote Areas| Pilot projects to establish new technological developments in the telecom sector, which can be deployed in the Rural and Remote Areas, may be supported with the approval of the Central Government.| [[http://usof.gov.in/usof-cms/SMCF.jsp | Solar Mobile Charging Facility (SMCF) ]]; [[http://usof.gov.in/usof-cms/usof-sanchar-shakti.jsp | Sanchar Shakti ]]
+<callout type="danger" icon="true">
+About 49 per cent of the USOF still remains unused. Based on the latest figures (As on 31.07.2021) total accretion is Rs. 119121.34 cr, total disbursement is Rs. 60840.80 cr. ,  Potentially available fund Rs. 58280.54 cr. ((Source: http://usof.gov.in/usof-cms/usof-fund-status-table.jsp ))
+</callout>
 ===== Cooperatives =====