Verizon gets virtual network operator permit

Telecom firm Verizon India Friday said it has been awarded a unified licence for virtual network operator that will allow it to retail services of other telcos.

"We are grateful to the Department of Telecommunications for the license which will allow our customers to speed up their network deployments by allowing us to offer a full end-to-end managed service experience which includes internet connectivity," Robert Le Busque, Managing Director of Verizon's Australia, New Zealand and India, said in a statement.

The Indian arm of the US telecom major already offers national and international long distance (NLD/ILD) services and has an internet services provider (ISP) licence. It also provides services to enterprise customers.

"The VNO licence gives us agility and brings in cost control for our customers specially those who want to deploy software defined networks. We can now partner other ISPs and telecom operators to resell their service. As of now, the service is only focussed at enterprise customers," Anjali Amar, country manager, Verizon Enterprise Solutions said.

VNOs are entities authorised to provide telecom services like mobile, landline and internet, but only as retailers for full-fledged telecom operators such as BSNL, MTNL, Airtel and the like.

India allowed VNO services in 2016.