Consultation on Universal Service Strategy Myanmar has enshrined in its Telecommunications Act the installation of a Universal Service Fund that would serve, among other efforts, to bridge the service gap in rural and remote areas. Myanmar is currently working with consultants from Intelecon Research, with support from the World Bank to develop the universal service strategy, design the fund, and complete pilot projects. Sonja Oestmann and Andrew Dymond of Intelecon are leading the consultation. The government has encouraged the consultants to use the A4AI-Myanmar coalition as a platform throughout their contract to incorporate multi-stakeholders views in the process. The first step in this ongoing consultation was a half-day meeting on November 18th. The meeting reinforced the objective of Universal Service Fund—to ensure that all people in Myanmar have access to affordable telecommunications services, both voice services and broadband Internet. The consultation was open to all stakeholders committed to increasing broadband access and affordability in Myanmar. As the first consultation of its kind, it sought to establish common understanding of the opportunities and challenges surrounding the fund. - - - The idea of universal service was introduced in Myanmar in 2012, much before the reform process began, and when the entire telecom planning was operator-centred. However, with the reform process under way, the entire telecom domain became consumer-centred with key regulatory activities undertaken by the government. In the new regulatory regime, there would be at least 700 personnel assisting the work of the PTD to ensure universal services obligations are met and the consumer interests are protected. Among the many objectives, the three major ones the regulators would pursue are that of (a) managing competition, (b) facilitating ICT for development, and (c) changing the telecom development from one that was operator-centred to that of consumer-focussed. Of the four functions of the regulator, universal service finds a place apart from service licensing, market-based resources management and placing safeguards. Regular consultations with the stakeholders would help to design and implement the fund for the benefit of all.