In order to accomplish 100% coverage in ICT services in the country the Government has designed a Universal Access Program.
Attorney General and Communications Minister Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum said the program will offer subsidies to companies to encourage them to provide services in areas that are not considered to be commercially viable.
Sayed-Khaiyum said government will begin advertising for this soon and expects to have contracts awarded by the end of the year.
He said one of the major problems of providing service to remote areas is the huge costs for companies to establish the necessary infrastructure.
The Communications Minister said the Government is currently finalizing laws that will facilitate infrastructure sharing between service providers in which a company will now be able to pay a fee to share another company’s pre-existing infrastructure rather than having to build their own.
He said more competition means better competitive pricing and better services.
Story by: Sofaia Koroitanoa
