Tripartite MoU Signed to Boost Digital Empowerment in Rural India

GG News Bureau
New Delhi, 13th March. In a significant development aimed at advancing digital empowerment in rural India, the Universal Service Obligation Fund (USOF) under the Department of Telecommunications (DoT) has signed a tripartite Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Prasar Bharati, under the Ministry of Information & Broadcasting, and the Open Network for Digital Commerce (ONDC), an initiative of the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade under the Ministry of Commerce & Industry.

The primary objective of this MoU is to facilitate the proliferation of affordable and accessible digital services throughout the country. It seeks to combine broadband services with Over-the-Top (OTT) platforms and e-commerce platforms for rural India, leveraging the BharatNet infrastructure under the USOF.

This collaboration, anchored by the Prime Minister’s vision and steadfast commitment to fostering an environment conducive to digital innovation, represents a unique synergy between connectivity, content, and commerce, aimed at empowering rural India.

The MoU signing ceremony witnessed the presence of Dr. Neeraj Mittal, Secretary (Telecom); Shri Niraj Verma, Administrator, USOF; Shri T Koshy, MD & CEO, ONDC; Shri A K Jha, ADG, Platforms, Prasar Bharati; and Shri Sunil Kumar Verma, Joint Secretary, DoT.

USOF has played a pivotal role in facilitating high-speed broadband and mobile connectivity across Gram Panchayats (GPs) and villages nationwide. Under this MoU, Prasar Bharati’s OTT platform will be bundled as a service, offering linear channels, live TV, and on-demand content to end consumers. USOF, in turn, will ensure efficient and high-speed broadband services in rural and remote areas.

Prasar Bharati, as the national public service broadcaster with unparalleled legacy content, consumer reach, and brand recall, will curate and produce content for its OTT platform. Additionally, ONDC, a key player in digital infrastructure, will provide technical expertise and the necessary framework to enable digital commerce in various products and services. This initiative will eventually encompass sectors such as education, health, training, credit, insurance, agriculture, among others, furthering the goal of comprehensive digital empowerment in rural India.