Union Cabinet approves USOF to provide mobile connectivity in Left Wing Extremism (LWE) areas

The Union Cabinet, chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, has approved the Universal Service Obligation Fund (USOF) supported scheme to provide mobile services at 4,072 tower locations in Left Wing Extremism (LWE) affected areas. The 96 districts in 10 States will be covered for Phase-ll project and the network will be used by the security personnel deployed in the naxal affected areas. Project will also provide the mobile services to help the residents in unconnected inhabited villages which would improve the economic activities in the region. It will give impetus to the e-Governance activities in the backward and LWE affected area with the availability of digital mobile connectivity. The total project cost would be Rs.7, 330 Crore. The Cabinet also gave its approval for the Implementation of a Comprehensive Telecom Development Plan for the North Eastern Region in Meghalaya.