In a move that will fast-track the implementation of mobile number portability (MNP) in the country, the home ministry has cleared the proposal of US-based Telcordia Technologies to implement MNP in India. The move would clear the decks for a final nod from the foreign investment promotion board (FIPB), thus enabling the introduction of number portability, which allows mobile subscribers to switch to a different service provider, while retaining their numbers. Telcordia is one of the two agencies selected by the government to act as a clearing house for MNP. These agencies will manage the entire porting exercise.
The home ministry has said there is credible information to conclude that the role of Telcordia Technologies in Pakistan is merely that of a vendor and it does not have any role in number portability. The ministry has also said that the Indian partner, Deepak Talwar and Consultants, which has formed a JV with Telcordia called MNP Interconnection, has sufficient expertise in telecom services.
However, the ministry has imposed certain conditions to ensure that the equipment and services provided to India or to any Indian associate company will have no connection with Pakistan. The number portability data concerning India will be maintained in a server located in India and both the CEO and the CFO of the new JV, will be of Indian origin. The introduction of mobile number portability has been delayed in the wake of FIPB deferring its nod to Telcordia Technologies? investment proposal due to security concerns raised by the home ministry. Security agencies, including IB and RAW, had in their comments on the MNP Interconnection Telecom Solutions proposal of Telcordia Technologies, expressed apprehensions regarding the US firm?s presence in Pakistan and raised the possible exploitation of MNP data for purposes inimical to Indian interests. US-based Telcordia Technologies owns 74% of MNP Interconnection and 26 % is held by Deepak Talwar Consultants.
The home ministry had earlier raised concerns that Deepak Talwar Consultants did not have sufficient expertise in the telecom sector and therefore, the US firm will have complete control over the management of MNP Interconnection. The home ministry had also referred to Telcordia’s operations in Pakistan, which could be a security issue and therefore wanted the permission given to MNP Interconnection revoked.
Mobile number portability was supposed to be implemented from January 1 but it has been deferred till April 1 after the operators said they were not ready with the network. Apart from Telcordia-backed MNP Interconnection, DoT had also granted a licence to Syniverse to act as the number portability service provider in the country.