Telecordia gets Home Ministry's nod for MNP services

Switching mobile operators without changing numbers may become possible from May this year, with Telecordia - the company that enables this change - getting Home Ministry clearance to set shop in the country.

Telecordia, the US-based telecom solution vendor that was selected by the Department of Telecom to be one of the firms to make Mobile Number Portability possible, had hit a security bump owing to its operations in Pakistan.

It's investment plan had earlier come under question at the Foreign Investment Promotion Board, because of objections raised by the Home Ministry.

In the last FIPB meeting, the Home Ministry is learnt to have given a clearance to the company with some riders that mandated Telecordia USA to furnish credible information about its exact role in Pakistan -- whether it was just a vendor or does it also enable Number Portability in that country.

"The matter has been re-examined and this Ministry conveys no-objection to the proposal subject to addressal of the certain issues", said a communication from Home Ministry to the Finance Ministry.

Telecordia has a 74:26 joint venture with Deepak Talwar Consultants. The CEO and CFO shall be Indians, it said.

"Suitable conditions are imposed to ensure that the equipment and services provided to India or to any Indian associate company would have no connection with its operating company in Pakistan", said the note.

The other rider is the number portability data concerning India shall be maintained in a server in India.