The Telecommunications, Radiocommunications and Broadcasting Regulation Act No. 30 of 2009, as amended by Amendment No. 22 of 2018 (the Act), Section 19 mandates the provision of the Universal Access Policy Fund. A Licensed Service provider is liable to pay an annual levy to the UAP, a sum not greater than 4% of its net revenue. Also any person may voluntarily contribute towards the UAP Fund and such person may specify that such contribution be applied in specific manner. A UAP trust fund was established with the Government and TRBR is the administrator of the UAP trust fund.
Following that, the TRBR has put together a consultation paper on a draft Guideline on the Universal Access Implemented Programs and the Licensed Service Providers obligations as mandated in Section 19 of the Act. The Guideline relates to the administration of the Universal Access Program and to ensure that the UAP continues to effectively and efficiently achieve its primary purpose of providing modern, affordable and sustainable telecommunications services, particularly to areas and communities that are unserved or underserved or which have high service cost and demand levels that would justify investment on commercial grounds.