Rural Sindh: Jazz collaborates with USF to provide 4G connectivity

KARACHI: Jazz has collaborated with the Universal Service Fund (USF) to provide 4G services in Qambar-Shahdadkot, Larkana, Naushehroferoze and Shaheed Benazirabad districts of Sindh.

Under the agreement, Jazz will install a total of 90 cell sites, including technology upgrades, sector addition and power upgrades to provide data and voice services to 719 mauzas that fall under the four districts.

An MoU to this effect was signed by Haaris Mahmood Chaudhary, CEO, USF, and Mudassar Hussain, VP Public Policy and Regulatory Affairs, Jazz. Federal Minister for IT and Telecom Syed Aminul Haque, Asif Aziz, CCO, Jazz and Federal Minister for Planning, Development and Special Initiatives Asad Umar witnessed the contract signing ceremony.

Talking at the event, Syed Aminul Haque pledged to fight the case for the IT and Telecom users in front of the special committee setup by Prime Minister Imran Khan to deliberate on the mini-budget matter of 15 percent telecom WHT and 17 percent sales tax on digital devices.

Asad Umar mentioned that digitalisation is key to the country’s future with which billions of dollars can be added to the economy, and called for conducive policies that don’t look at the IT and Telecom sector with a fiscal lens.

“For our youth and their innovative ideas, we need policies that reduce barriers to entry, especially the cost associated with connectivity, digital tools and setting up a business. For this purpose, my full support is with Minister for IT and Telecom Syed Aminul Haque as he seeks a revisit of the taxation proposal,” he added.

Asif Aziz, Chief Commercial Officer, Jazz, said that providing reliable mobile broadband to all our fellow citizens remains a key priority at Jazz. Through this collaboration with USF, 719 un-served mauzas of rural Sindh will be able to access high speed mobile broadband which will unlock unlimited socio-economic opportunities for the residents, he added.

He also warned that the country is in a state of digital emergency and the proposed move to increase WHT on telecom users and a 17 percent sales tax on smartphones and laptops will further push the country behind its global peers.

Haaris Mahmood Chaudhry, Chief Executive Officer of USF, while giving details about the performance of USF and two new projects for Sindh, said that as per the directives of Federal Minister Syed Amin Ul Haq, all projects will be completed within the stipulated time frame with high standard and quality.

Copyright Business Recorder, 2021