After months of uncertainty, Telcordia Technologies will finally get the Centre's nod for implementing mobile number portability (MNP) in the country. The decision was taken on the eve of U.S. President Barack Obama's arrival in India. The U.S.-based company's file has been cleared by the Foreign Investment Promotion Board (FIPB), The Hindu has learned, but this green signal will depend on the fulfilment of seven conditions laid down by the Union Ministry of Home Affairs which had previously blocked Telcordia because of its involvement Pakistan's telecom sector.
According to Government sources, the FIPB held a meeting on the issue last week where the MHA agreed to clear Telcordia Technologies' MNP operations. The Home Ministry has demanded that Telcordia not allow any of its employees who have been part of its Pakistan operations to work in India, while its MNP joint venture company should be headed by an Indian.
Home Ministry is extra cautious on MNP because the service provider will have all the data related to mobile calls which could be used against India's national interest. It was due to this factor that Telcordia's role in MNP implementation has been in doubt. General Jim Jones, who was U.S. National Security Adviser at the time, met Home Minister P. Chidambaram in July apprising him that Telcordia was only providing vendor services in Pakistan, while its operations in India would be different.
For its MNP venture in India, Telcordia has joined hands with DTC Private Ltd. to form MNP Interconnection Telecom Solutions India Pvt. Ltd. where the U.S. firm holds 74 per cent stake.
