Village Act

The next phase under the flag of liberalisation, the Act to set up the telecom sector development fund was published on Monday, open for a week for public scrutiny.
Setting up the Viswa Grama Trust Fund, next in line to the liberalisation of the international voice market earlier this year, is intended to take the telecom industry to rural villages lacking the basic facility.

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rnMonies to the fund, estimated to exceed Rs. 120 million a month, will come from external gateway operators (EGO) and international donor agencies.

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rnThe EGO will contribute US$ 0.11 for every incoming minute in the first year of operations, gradually dropping to US$ 0.

01 by the sixth year. rn

rnMeanwhile, the Fund will pay US$ 0.072 to the telecom network terminating the international call, holding the remaining US$ 0.

038 for subsidies for rural network rollout.

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rnThe payment to local network operators will also drop to US$ 0.01 by the sixth year. rn

rnIn addition, EGO will pay Rs. 4.40 per minute of every out