USOF, Prasar Bharati, and ONDC Ink Tripartite MoU to Drive Digital Empowerment in Rural India

In a significant step towards advancing digital empowerment in rural India, the Universal Service Obligation Fund (USOF) under the Department of Telecommunications (DoT) has inked a tripartite Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Prasar Bharati, operating under the Ministry of Information & Broadcasting, and the Open Network for Digital Commerce (ONDC), a Digital Public Infrastructure initiative of the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade, Ministry of Commerce & Industry. The collaboration aims to facilitate the dissemination of affordable and accessible digital services nationwide. The focal point of the MoU is to bundle broadband services with over-the-top (OTT) and e-commerce platforms, leveraging the BharatNet infrastructure under the USOF.

This innovative collaboration, underpinned by the Prime Minister's vision and steadfast commitment to fostering a conducive environment for digital innovation, brings together connectivity, content, and commerce to empower rural India.

The MoU signing ceremony witnessed the presence of key dignitaries, including 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.

The USOF has played a pivotal role in facilitating high-speed broadband and mobile connections across Gram Panchayats (GPs) and villages nationwide. Under this MoU, Prasar Bharati will offer bundled OTT services, comprising linear channels, Live TV, and on-demand content, to end consumers, while USOF ensures efficient and high-speed broadband services in rural and remote areas. Leveraging its unparalleled legacy content, consumer reach, and brand recall, Prasar Bharati will curate and produce content for its OTT platform. Furthermore, ONDC, a prominent player in digital infrastructure, will provide technical expertise and the necessary framework to enable digital commerce in various products and services, expanding to encompass sectors such as education, health, training, credit, insurance, agriculture, among others.

This collaborative effort marks a significant stride towards bridging the digital divide and fostering inclusive growth by leveraging the transformative potential of digital technologies in rural India.