| The Department of Telecommunications (DoT), Government of India has awarded MNP Interconnection Telecom Solutions India Pvt Ltd., a joint venture company of Telcordia Technologies, Inc., the license to implement number portability services in India. According to the license terms, MNP Interconnection will be responsible for implementing mobile number portability in Zone 2, i.e. south and east India.
As part of its first phase rollout plans, DOT has mandated number portability to be implemented in Chennai and Tamil Nadu within six months of the effective date of the license award. MNP Interconnection will be implementing number portability in South and East India. This announcement comes after the application filed by Telcordia, a global leader in the development of fixed, mobile and broadband communications software and services, received the final clearance from the Foreign Investment Promotion Board (FIPB), Government of India. Telcordia's proposal for Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) has also been cleared by the Government of India.
Richard Jacowleff, Chairman Designate, MNP Interconnection Telecom Solutions Pvt. Ltd. and President, Interconnection Solutions, Telcordia, said, "We are extremely excited to be part of the new era of communications in India. Number portability will accelerate the evolution of advanced communications services and gives operators an easier way to differentiate themselves to attract and retain customers. India is a unique country in terms of communications growth and opportunity, and Telcordia and MNP Interconnection have the expertise required for implementing a scalable, flexible and highly reliable number portability solution."
As the market leader in number portability deployments over the last 15 years, Telcordia has managed more than 700 million porting transactions across 14 countries. Telcordia's unmatched expertise and experience in planning, designing and creating highly scalable, reliable networks for Tier 1 carriers worldwide, very uniquely positions MNP Interconnection to support the communications revolution that is currently underway in India.
MNP Interconnection Telecom Solutions has initiated the process of engaging with the key stakeholders. The joint venture company will be meeting with mobile operators to assess their preparedness for the rollout of number portability in the stipulated timeframe.
Ashok Sapra, Managing Director, MNP Interconnection Telecom Solutions Pvt Ltd. said, "We are fully prepared to take on the task of implementing number portability in India. The Indian telecom market is very complex and we are confident that with the expertise and the local understanding of our promoters we will be able to successfully launch number portability services in the country in the timeframe stipulated by the Department of Telecommunications."
"Our estimates indicate that porting would average at about 1 percent in the first year of operations, going up to about 8-10 percent and gradually averaging at about 5 percent", Mr. Sapra added.
Telcordia is a leading global provider of fixed, mobile, and broadband communications software and services. For 25 years, the company has created the innovations that have helped organizations deploy advanced networks and groundbreaking new communications services. On the number portability front, Telcordia has unmatched expertise and experience in planning, designing and creating highly scalable, reliable networks for Tier 1 carriers worldwide. Telcordia is the market leader in number portability clearinghouse and gateway solutions, having implemented fixed and mobile number portability services in 14 countries, including the United States, Brazil, Canada, Egypt, Greece, Lithuania, Malaysia, Mexico, Norway, Oman, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, South Africa and Turkey.
For information about Telcordia number portability solutions visit: http://www.telcordia.com/services/number_portability/index.html. For general information about Telcordia, visit www.telcordia.com.
About MNP Interconnection Telecom Solutions India Pvt Ltd MNP Interconnection Telecom Solutions India Pvt Ltd is a joint venture between US-based Telcordia Technologies, Inc., a global leader in the development of fixed, mobile and broadband communications software and services, and Indian enterprise, DTC Pvt Ltd. Based in Gurgaon, MNP Interconnection Telecom Solutions has been awarded a license to implement a number portability clearinghouse in India by the Department of Telecommunications.
Focused on helping its customers worldwide realize operational efficiencies, drive revenue, and maintain a competitive edge, Telcordia enables communications service providers, enterprises, suppliers and government entities to deploy innovative and advanced services. Telcordia is headquartered in Piscataway, N.J., with offices throughout North America, Europe, Asia and Central and Latin America. (www.telcordia.com). |