The Universal Service Fund has awarded a contract worth Rs 2.33 billion to Ufone for providing 3G services in Awaran/Lasbela. USF’s Broadband for Sustainable Development project aims to launch 3G services in backward areas of Balochistan.
Acting CEO USF Haaris M Chaudhary and Acting CEO Ufone Nadeem Khan signed the contract. At this occasion State Minister for IT & Telecom Anusha Rehman and Finance Minister Ishaq Dar were also present.
Through this project an un-served population of about 196,177, covering 269 mauzas & area of 39,434 sq kms will get latest mobile broadband services.
72 new BTSs (mobile towers) will be installed to provide 3G services in the area. The Awaran/Lasbela Lot covers 12.8 percent of the area and 6.5 percent of the total estimated population of Balochistan and includes Awaran and Lasbela districts.
The Growth in Telecom sector isn’t enough:
There has been a massive growth in telecom sector, especially after the launch of 3G and 4G services in 2014. However, a vast area of Pakistan is still un-served. USF has a target to reach all un-served areas with rural telephone and e-Services (RTeS) by first quarter of 2018.
USF has provided telecommunication facility to 310 under-served towns and provided over 6400 km fibre optics so far. Besides that USF has established 50 computer labs in Bait-ul-Maal for women empowerment centers.
