USO

About DBN (Digital Bharat Nidhi) erstwhile USOF

Digital Bharat Nidhi (DBN) is a fund established by the Department of Telecommunications under the Telecommunications Act, 2023, in place of the Universal Service Obligation Fund (USOF).

 

Objectives of Digital Bharat Nidhi are:

  • Support universal service through promoting access to and delivery of telecommunication services in underserved rural, remote and urban areas.
  • Support research and development of telecommunication services, technologies, and products.
  • Support pilot projects, consultancy assistance and advisory support.
  • Support introduction of telecommunication services, technologies, and products.

 

On going schemes of DBN in Punjab

  1. Amended BharatNet Program (ABP)–

This is the revised BharatNet scheme as approved by Union Cabinet on 04.08.2023 for extending the scope of BharatNet to all 6.4 lakh inhabited GPs/villages, with project to be implemented across 28 states and 6 UTs, including upgradation of existing network of BharatNet Phase-I and Phase-II, build the network in uncovered GPs, and O&M for 10 years. The approval, inter alia, includes provisioning of 1.50 Crore rural home fibre connections distributed across all States/UTs with priority to cover Government institute including schools, primary health centres, Anganwadis, Panchayat offices etc. using the BNU model over the next five years. BSNL has been nominated as the Project Management Agency for Amended BharatNet Program.

 

The Role of O/o CCAs in ABP – Upon receipt of claim documents from BSNL, CCAs will perform due verification as per the relevant agreements and settle the claims.

 

  1. Physical Verification of FTTH (Fiber to the Home) connections under ABP -

Under ABP CCAs shall conduct physical verification of 5-10% of the FTTH connections provisioned in the particular financial year ensuring coverage of all districts.

As per the list provided by the Office of CGCA, Punjab Circle had provisioned 31,789 active FTTH connections (upto Feb 2026) in FY 2025-26. In accordance with the prescribed SOP, 1,610 FTTH connections were physically verified across 23 districts of Punjab through systematic field visits during the financial year 2025-2026.

 

  1. 4G Saturation Project-

An agreement has been signed between USOF and M/S BSNL for provision of 4G based mobile services in identified uncovered villages across the country. The project will provide 4G mobile services in all uncovered villages in remote and difficult areas. BSNL shall provision for 4G mobile services for coverage of uncovered villages across the country by installing new 4G mobile towers. BSNL shall also provide 4G mobile services at villages having only 2G/3G services from existing BSNL/0ther TSP towers by upgrading the BSNL towers or installation of new tower at other TSP locations.