Lack of access of Mobile phones in Pakistan
Although Universal Service Fund (USF) has spent around Rs. 93 billion from 2006 to 2007, 15% of population still does not have access to mobile services. Official sources claim that basic phone & mobile broadband connections are still unavailable in a number of Balochistan regions and in portions of erstwhile Federal Administered Tribal Areas (FATA).
The fund was created in 2007 to provide fiber optic, cellphone, broadband internet, and other communication services to unserved or underserved areas. Every telecom provider has been contributing 1.5% of their profits to the fund. Prior to the implementation of USF in 2006 to 2007, roughly 44% of the population was covered by telecoms.
USF authorities said that many locations remain underserved despite huge development. According to them, the USF had to deal with issues including steep terrain , a smaller population, bad weather, limited electricity , no backhaul , bad logistics, and security clearance. Programs funded by the government enable telecom operators to reach the unserved and underserved in areas where their business models are not feasible.
Broadband for Sustainable Development program seeks to provide telecom services to underserved Mauzas around the country, according to USF official. After the federal government issued 3G/4G licenses, this program was updated to make broadband equivalent data (internet) services a mandatory component.
Telecom service providers can expand all types of telecom services to locations by adding fibre cables to tehsils. It is comparable to creating information highways for all tehsils. In accordance this initiative, 56 tehsils and 26 towns have been connected, and 6,447 kilometres of fibre have been laid.
A number of initiatives have been launched under specific projects, including ICTs for girls, the construction of 13 computer laboratories in certain institutions, the opening of telecenters, the ability for people with impairments to access telecom services, and telemedicine network end services.
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