Number portability put off once again

Communications Minister A Raja’s promise to let people switch their mobile service operators while retaining their telephone number has got delayed once again — the deadline for the implementation of mobile number portability has been postponed from October 31 to December 20.

This is the third postponement in less than a year. Mobile number portability was first expected to kick off on December 31, 2009 in the metros and category-A circles, and on April 1, 2010 in the rest of the country.

The official reasons for the delay sound familiar. One, the service operators are not ready, though several of them are working overtime to launch third-generation services by Diwali. Two, the investment proposal of the overseas partner of one of the two companies mandated to implement portability has not yet been cleared by the Foreign Investment Promotion Board (FIPB).

The Department of Telecommunications had given licences to two companies: Syniverse Technologies and MNP Interconnection Telecom Solutions which is a 74-26 joint venture between US-based Telcordia and Deepak Talwar Consultants. In March 2009, Telcordia had received FIPB's approval. 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 mobile number portability there. Further, Deepak Talwar Consultants had no expertise in running a telecommunication network. FIPB had thus revoked its clearance given to the company. But it again applied for permission; FIPB has deferred the proposal.

Meanwhile, the Department of Telecommunications has asked Syniverse Technologies to get ready for mobile number portability across the country.