UNIVERSAL SERVICE PROVISION

Pursuant to Section 202 (1) of the Communications and Multimedia Act 1998, the Minister may direct the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission to determine a system to promote the widespread availability and use of network services and or applications services throughout Malaysia by encouraging the installation of network facilities and the provision of services in underserved areas or for underserved groups within the community.

The Malaysian Communication and Multimedia Commission has issued the Commission Determination on Universal Service Provision, Determination No.2 of 2001 and Commission Determination on Universal Service Provision, Determination No.6 of 2002 which focus, among others, on provision of services to universal service targets and requirement for contribution to USP fund. On 30 October 2003, the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission issued the Variation to Commission Determination of Universal Service Provision (Determination No.6 of 2002), Variation No.1 of 2003 to reflect the amendments in the Commission Determination on Universal Service Provision, Determination No.6 of 2002.

"Underserved areas" are defined as "areas where the penetration rate for Public Switch Telephony Network (PSTN) subscribers is 20% below the national penetration rate or any locality where, in the opinion of the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission, applications services are not sufficiently available to the community at large, while underserved groups are groups of people who by similar characteristics do not have access to basic communication services."

Thus far, factors which indicate whether an area is underserved or otherwise are:

a) number of households in a district,
b) current level of telephone subscribers,
c) penetration rate and existing installed capacities of network infrastructure.

The Communications and Multimedia Act 1988 provides for the establishment of a USP Fund to enable roll out of services in areas identified for Universal Service Provision.

Under the Communications and Multimedia (Universal Service Provision) Regulations 2002, the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission is required to publish a Notification specifying the universal service targets from time to time. The latest Notification lists down 86 areas which have been identified as the universal service targets where the provision of universal service will be implemented in the year 2004 onwards.
The Communications and Multimedia (Universal Service Provision) (Amendment) Regulations 2003 was gazetted on 30 October 2003 to improve the rate of rollout of the installation of network facilities, network services and applications services to all universal service targets.

For the previous years, the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission has issued the following Notifications:

1. Universal Service Provision (USP) Notification Of Universal Service Targets Year 2003

2. Universal Service Provision (USP) Notification Of Universal Service Targets Year 2002

3. Universal Service Provision (USP) Notification of Universal Service Targets Year 2001

4. On 4 December 2007 the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission issued the following publication:
2006 Universal Service Provision Annual Report

5. On 24 December 2008 the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission issued the following publication:
Universal Service Provision (USP) Notification of Universal Service Targets 

6. On 24 June 2008 the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission issued the following publication:
2007 Universal Service Provision Annual Report

7. On 28 April 2009 the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission issued the following publication:
2008 Universal Service Provision Annual Report


USP SYMPOSIUM ON COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGIES FOR UNDERSERVED COMMUNITIES

The inaugural USP Symposium on Communication Technologies for Underserved Communities was held in Seremban on Thursday, 12 June 2008. The two day symposium aimed to identify the right technology-mix for the Universal Service Provision (USP) programme roll-out. This is to ensure that the universal services offered are relevant and beneficial to the underserved communities identified under the USP Programme.

Press Statement:
- The Inaugural USP Symposium on Communication Technologies for Underserved Communities

Opening address:
– by Yang Berhormat Dato’ Shaziman Abu Mansor, Minister of Energy, Water, and Communications (KTAK)

Keynote address
– by Yang Berbahagia Datuk Dr. Halim Shafie, Chairman of Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (SKMM)

Program Agenda:
- The Inaugural USP Symposium on Communication Technologies for Underserved Communities