Department of Telecommunications (DoT) to fund innovations in telecom technology
December 26, 2007,Indiatimes Infotech
This news article reports that the DoT has decided to fund innovations in communication technologies developed by small companies, entrepreneurs, universities or NGOs. The Universal Service Obligation Fund (USOF), where currently over Rs 10,000 crore lie unutilised, will be used for this purpose. The decision marks a departure from the past when funding was restricted to telcos and standalone tower companies. The government hopes that this will increase India's rural tele-density, which stands below the 10 per cent mark, in contrast to the national figure of 22 per cent.