The Authority shall determine the public telecommunications services in respect of which the requirement of universal service shall apply.
In accordance with Section 28 (1) of the Telecommunications Act (2001) (‘the Act’), the Authority shall determine the public telecommunications services in respect of which the requirement of universal service shall apply.
Universal access is achieved when 100% of the country’s population can access affordable basic telecommunications services either on an individual or shared (public access) basis. Examples of publicly accessing these basic services can be through community access centres, Internet kiosks and public payphones.
Universal service on the other hand builds on the concept of universal access. This is achieved when basic telecommunications services are both accessible and affordable and are delivered on either a household basis or an individual basis. Therefore universal service speaks to 100% of the population being able to subscribe and use these basic services on a household or individual basis.
In order to fulfill the objectives of the Act, the Authority is guided by the Universal Service Framework and the Universal Service Regulations which sets out the overarching principles for the implementation and fulfillment of universal service objectives and initiatives. The Universal Service Regulations, 2015 were promulgated on May 5th, 2015.