[kictanet] Telcos to pay more into USF kitty

[Mwendwa Kivuva]

http://www.nation.co.ke/business/Telcos-to-pay-more-for-ICT-access-fund/-/996/2942974/-/format/xhtml/-/mss4nb/-/index.html

Telecom firms will need to dig deeper into their pockets to fund a
Sh100 billion programme aimed at providing ICT services in
marginalised areas.

Canadian firm Intelecon Research and Consultancy Ltd, which is
carrying out a new study on ICT access gaps on behalf of the
Communications Authority (CA), said operators have so far contributed
only Sh2.9 billion against the target.

The firm will deliver to the CA the results of the study by February
2016, when the programme is expected to be formally launched.

The study, which is benchmarked against best practices in Uganda,
Tanzania and Pakistan, will help the CA to implement the Universal
Service Fund (USF) that aims to close the ICT access gap in the
country.

Intelecon is expected to develop an interactive online portal showing
where the gaps exist as well as determine the exact cost of rolling
out the services.

“USF levies will total Sh6.9 billion to Sh10 billion in the next 10
years,” stated the Intel

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Mwendwa Kivuva, Nairobi, Kenya
twitter.com/lordmwesh