Rethinking Universal Service Funds in South Asia: Challenges, Impact, and the Road Ahead

Date: Sunday, Oct 12

Time: 13:00 - 13:30 (30 mins)

Session Types: Showcase

Universal Service Funds (USFs) have played a pivotal role in expanding connectivity across South Asia, aiming to bridge the digital divide in unserved, underserved and remote parts of the region, as well as across dispersed people. This showcase session will premise itself in the evolving role of USFs in today’s digital ecosystem, examining their successes, persistent challenges, and lessons from regional experiences. In this context, the presenters will unpack issues such as under-utilisation of funds, political and regulatory bottlenecks, and the need for modernisation in the age of the Internet, digital and emerging technologies. Drawing on diverse perspectives, this showcase session will offer a comprehensive, actionable recommendation framework to South Asian policymakers, and an advocacy plan for industry, technical community, and civil society to revitalise USFs as effective tools for digital inclusion. This recommendation framework is developed with support from the APNIC Foundation. Participants will leave with a deeper understanding of how the recommended reforms stand to further connectivity, meaningful access, development, and equity goals across South Asia.

Moderators/Speakers: Mahesh Uppal, Omar Ansari