DoT has invited expressions of interest from telecom companies to participate in the second phase of the Universal Service Obligation (USO) Fund project for rolling out mobile infrastructure in rural areas.

DoT has invited expressions of interest from telecom companies to participate in the second phase of the Universal Service Obligation (USO) Fund project for rolling out mobile infrastructure in rural areas.

Under this phase, 11,000 towers will be set up across 250,000 villages. Only those companies that have been shortlisted by DoT will be allowed to take part in the bid. Apart from independent infrastructure providers like GTL, operators like Bharti Airtel and Reliance Communications are also expected to place bids.