USF Connects 40 Million Pakistanis via Broadband

The Universal Service Fund (USF) is leading Pakistan towards a digitally inclusive future, providing broadband access to underserved and unserved areas across the country. Speaking at a seminar hosted by the Pakistan School on Internet Governance (PKSIG) titled “Bridging the Connectivity Gap,” USF CEO Chaudhary Mudassar Naveed underscored the organization’s commitment to closing the digital divide through Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs).

“USF is playing a pivotal role in bridging the connectivity gap by ensuring broadband services are available in remote, underserved regions,” stated Mudassar Naveed. He outlined the organization’s mission to empower communities by offering affordable, high-speed internet access, transforming lives in areas that lack connectivity.

Since its establishment, USF has allocated over PKR 136 billion in subsidies for 161 projects, bringing broadband services to nearly 40 million people in more than 23,000 villages. From 2019 onwards, USF launched 90 projects valued at over PKR 80 billion, which included the installation of 2,915 mobile towers equipped with 4G services and the laying of 10,192 km of Optical Fiber Cable (OFC) across Pakistan.

Mudassar highlighted the significant challenges USF has overcome, including security issues, difficult terrain, sparse populations, and logistical challenges, all while remaining dedicated to bridging the rural-urban divide. Through these efforts, USF is making strides toward achieving the vision of a Digital Pakistan and fostering a stronger digital economy.

USF, established under Section 33(A) of the Pakistan Telecommunication Re-Organization Act, 1996, functions as a non-profit under the Ministry of Information Technology and Telecommunication (MoITT), working to expand ICTs in underserved and unserved areas.