Union Cabinet approves upgradation of communication to 4G in Naxalite areas

Tags: National Popular

The Union Cabinet approved the Universal Service Obligation Fund (USOF) project to upgrade 2G mobile services to 4G at security locations in areas affected by Left Wing Extremism.

• This will enable better internet and data services in these LWE affected areas.

• The project envisages upgradation of 2,542 mobile towers to provide 4G services in LWE areas at a cost of Rs 2,426 crore in 10 states including Uttar Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand, Odisha and Maharashtra.

• All the sites will be upgraded by BSNL at a cost of Rs 2,426 crores.

• The Union Cabinet also approved the Revised Cost Estimate on "Setting up of India Post Payments Bank".

• The facility of India Post Payments Bank will be available in all 1.56 lakh branches of post offices, for which an additional Rs 820 crore will be spent.

• This proposal is in line with the goal of providing mobile connectivity in rural areas and facilitating the delivery of various e-governance services, banking services, tele-medicine, tele-education etc. through mobile broadband in these areas.

• The Cabinet also gave its approval for the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding between India and Chile for cooperation in the field of disabilities.