STAFF REPORT ISLAMABAD: The telecom operators’ funds for various research and developments (R&D) projects and schemes have reached Rs 40 billion in the Ministry of Information Technology and Telecommunication, sources have disclosed to this scribe.
The funds are utilised by Universal Service Funds (USF) and National ICT R&D funds for establishing basic infrastructure and service promotion of telephony and Internet services in rural under-served and unserved areas of the country.
The operators’ contribution for USF-run projects have increased to Rs. 38 billion at the rate of 1.5 percent share of their yearly gross revenue whereas over Rs. 2 billion amount has been submitted to the ministry for ICT R&D projects at 0.5 percent of annual earnings.
The sources said that the USF has so far awarded Rs. 15.5 billion contract in different provinces to various telecom operators. However, the development work has stopped since March last on the directives of then minister-Incharge MoITT Sardar Latif Khan Khosa.
It is to be mentioned here that the telecom operators, in such a chaotic situation, had asked the federal government to utilize the funds properly or they will stop paying their contribution to these organizations otherwise.
http://www.technologytimes.pk/mag/2011/jan11/issue05/telecops_r_d_funds_reach.php
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