DoT likely to withdraw Telcordia's mnp licence

Asks Syniverse Technologies to get ready to implement MNP

The Department of Telecommunications (DoT) has asked Syniverse Technologies to get ready for implementing mobile number portability (MNP) across the country, as it may have to withdraw the licence of Telcordia Technologies, the other selected company, after the Foreign Investment Promotion Board (FIPB) rejected its proposal.

Telcordia and Syniverse Technologies were selected by DoT to implement MNP across the country. India was divided into two zones for the implementation of MNP, a service that would allow a mobile user to retain his phone number while shifting to a new operator.

“The department has already asked Syniverse to ready itself to implement MNP all across India, as we might have to withdraw the license of Telcordia after FIPB rejected its proposal. The department is yet to receive any official communication from FIPB though,” a senior ministry official told Business Standard.

Syniverse, which was earlier asked to implement MNP in one zone, will have to manage MNP in both zones, if the department decides to withdraw the license of Telcordia. Rebidding for the whole process would again delay the introduction of MNP, which has already been postponed thrice.

The official said Syniverse had been asked to increase its capacity across the country.

In March 2009, MNP Interconnection Telecom Solutions — a 74:26 joint venture between US-based Telcordia and Deepak Talwar Consultants Pvt Ltd — had received FIPB approval for MNP implementation. But the Ministry of Home Affairs subsequently proposed to revoke the approval, citing security concerns, as Telcordia had signed a contract with Pakistan MNP Database for implementing MNP. Further, Deepak Talwar Consultants has no expertise in running a telecom network.

MNP was earlier scheduled to be implemented from December 31, 2009, in the metros and category-A circles, while the rest of the country was slated to have this platform by April 1, 2010. The latest deadline, fixed by the telecom department, for the launch of MNP is October 31, but it also seems unlikely. The launch of MNP is likely to happen only next year.