Wireless Federation

Service started only after Government nod and FIPB approval: Telenor

On 11.18.10, In Mobile, By Editor

Uninor, a joint venture of Norway’s Telenor and Indian realty firm Unitech, which is in the eye of a storm over CAG revelations on 2G spectrum allocation, stated that it started operations in India only after getting all government clearances.

According to Uninor Managing Director Sigve Brekke, the company entered Indian market by clearing the license obligation. They also asked the government for FIPB approval allowing them to own above 50%.

Getting government approval and also FIPB nod means the application has been scrutinized twice, first by the Department of Telecom (DoT) and then by the Ministry of Finance for acquiring more than 50% stake in Unitech Telecom Services.

He, however, added that the company is taking a cautious approach towards investments, particularly in a daily changing environment of the Indian telecom industry.

As per Brekke statement, the company entered India with the clear understanding that everything is OK and they have invested in US$ 1.2 billion, have 40 million subscribers of Uninor already. So they will see what the Government is doing as its responsibility.

FIPB approves Telcordia Technologies to manage mobile number portability (India)

On 11.08.10, In Mobile, By Editor

The foreign investment promotion board (FIPB) has approved US-based Telcordia Technologies’ offer to function as one of the two clearing houses for managing number portability in the country. The approval to Telcordia comes at a time when mobile number portability (MNP) is set to be implemented across the country in a phased manner from November 25.

The home ministry has put forward security conditions on Telcordia, and these are similar to those which telecom vendors importing software and hardware equipment have to follow. Consequently, Telcordia would have to deposit its software and hardware code in a government-controlled escrow account.

The company’s case had seen delay because of security reasons, since the company operates in Pakistan as well. Earlier, the US national security advisor had met Home Minister P Chidambaram and apprised him that Telcordia’s operations in Pakistan are in the nature of providing vendor services, which are quite different from what the company plans to do in India.

The country has been split into two zones for managing MNP. Syniverse Technologies India and MNP Interconnection, a joint venture between US-based Telcordia Technologies and Deepak Talwar Consultants, would act as the clearing houses in the respective zones to manage porting activities.

Filed under:Mobile Tagged with: Deepak Talwar Consultants • FIPB • Home Minister • India • Mobile • Mobile Number Portability • P Chidambaram • Pakistan • Syniverse Technologies • Telcordia Technologies • U.S

India’s MNP deadline deferred yet again

On 10.28.10, In Mobile, By Editor

India’s communications ministry has deferred the deadline for operators to execute mobile number portability once again and this time until December 31. The implementation of MNP has now been delayed by a full year as it had to commence 31 December last year.

As per reports, some operators are still not ready with the technical solutions required to ensure MNP, and the one of the parties chosen to implement MNP may be barred from operating in India.

The company is MNP Interconnection Telecom Solutions a Joint Venture between Telecordia and local firm Deepak Talwar Consultants.

While the Foreign Investment Promotion Board (FIPB) had previously cleared Telecordia to participate in the MNP Interconnection Telecom Solutions venture, it has since threatened to overturn this. Telecordia picked up a contract to implement MNP in Pakistan, and as a result FIPB has proposed to revoke Telecordia’s approval to take part in the venture citing security concerns.

Deepak Talwar, being a new and inexperienced telecom network it is also struggling to receive clearance to take part.

Filed under:Mobile Tagged with: Communications Ministry • Deepak Talwar Consultants • FIPB • India • Joint Venture • MNP • MNP Interconnection Telecom Solutions • Mobile • Pakistan • Telecordia

MNP postponed for the fourth time

On 10.25.10, In Mobile, By Editor

Number portability has got another extension date as the Indian telecom operators are expected to miss the October 31 deadline. The deadline for the implementation of mobile number portability has been postponed from October 31 to December 20.

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

The statement for the delay in the services was similar to the earlier statements. The service operators are not ready, though several of them are working overtime to launch 3G services by Diwali. 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).

Mobile number portability (MNP) enables mobile telephone users to retain their mobile telephone numbers when changing from one mobile network operator to another.

Filed under:Mobile Tagged with: 3G • category-A circles • DIWALI • FIPB • India • metros • Mobile • Mobile Number Portability • ndian telecom operators

Number portability roll-out to miss the deadline (India)

On 10.19.10, In Mobile, By Editor

The mobile number portability has again became a question mark as Indian telecom operators to scuttle the launch of mobile number portability (MNP) and lack of will on the part of the government to ring in the new rule which has dashed all hopes of it becoming a reality from October 31, the government’s latest deadline for putting MNP in place.

MNP gives the opportunity to mobile subscribers to migrate to other operators while retaining their number within the circle. The MNP roll-out was initially to take place by December 31, 2009 in all the metros across the country. The deadline was later deferred to March 31, 2010 and then to June 30, 2010. The government had set October 31 as the latest deadline for the roll-out of MNP across all 23 telecom circles in the country.

MNP is now all set to get postponed for the fourth time in less than a year.

According to officials, MNP is expected to be pushed forward by two to three months. A government panel, which was expected to take a call on security clearance for US-based Telcordia Technologies Inc, which together with Syniverse Technologies Inc was supposed to roll out MNP pan-India from October 31 – has not met so far.

DoT had earlier issued a show-cause notice to Telcordia asking why its license for MNP should not be cancelled. Telcordia has been given time till the third week of October to respond to DoT’s notice, making the MNP roll-out almost impossible.

Telcordia Technologies received Foreign Investment Promotion Board (FIPB) approval for India’s MNP project in March last year.

But the home ministry revoked the clearance in August on security grounds as the company has operations in Pakistan.

Telcordia explained that it was only a software vendor for Pakistan operations and had no other business interests there. But the Indian authorities are not convinced.

As per Telecom officials, lobbies have been creating trouble for Telcordia Technologies Inc by raking up the issue of its operations in Pakistan. This was aimed at delaying the implementation of MNP.

Filed under:Mobile Tagged with: DoT • FIPB • India • indian government • Mobile • Number Portability • Pakistan • Pan-India • Syniverse Technologies Inc • Telcordia • U.S

ByCell license cancelled by India’s DoT

On 04.12.10, In Mobile, By Editor

www.WirelessFederation.com/news: The mobile network operator licenses awarded to Russian-owned, Swiss-registered ByCell has been revoked by India’s Department of Telecommunications (DoT) on the grounds of security concerns. The operator was allowed to launch services in five circles; Assam, Orissa, Bihar, North East and West Bengal.

According to the letter from the regulator to ByCell’s CEO, the five letters of intent (LoI) are hereby withdrawn as the security clearance and all the Foreign Investment Promotion Board (FIPB) approvals granted to the company have been withdrawn.

The entry fee and performance guarantee, paid by the telco as part of its concession award, totalling INR860 million (USD19.33 million) will be refunded by DoT.

In May 2009, a report came as per which the approval granted to ByCell by FIPB to roll out a GSM network was withdrawn on the back of renewed security concerns after calls by the revenue department and the Ministry of Home Affairs to review the operator’s application. Company’s source of funding and shareholding structure was the reason of concern for both the government bodies.

Filed under:Mobile Tagged with: ASIA • Assam • Bihar • Department of Telecommunication • FIPB • GSM • India • Ministry of Home Affairs • North East • operator • Orissa • Russia • West Bengal

India further delays the launch of MNP service

On 02.22.10, In Mobile, By Editor

www.WirelessFederation.com/news: The introduction of mobile number portability has again been delayed by the Indian government citing security reasons. The service will now be launched after two months by end-May.

The proposal ran into trouble with the Foreign Investment Promotion Board (FIPB) as it was forced by the home ministry to its own approval due to security reasons. This is an extremely unusual situation that could even lead to the revocation of license, involving a fresh tendering process.

The MNP Interconnection Solutions had been approved by FIBP in February 2009 and one of two MNP service providers was selected by the Department of Telecom.

Filed under:Mobile Tagged with: ASIA • FIPB • Foreign Investment Promotion Board • India • Launch • Mobile Number Portability

Etisalat will ask FIPB for increased stake in Etisalat DB

On 12.22.09, In Mobile, By Editor

www.WirelessFederation.com/news: Etisalat DB, formally known as ‘Swan Telecom’, a yet-to-launch Indian mobile operator will witness a further stake of 5.27% by UAE fixed line incumbent Emirates Telecommunications Corporation (Etisalat).

According to the agreement Etisalat will acquire 5.27% stake from Chennai based Genex ventures in a deal worth over INR 3.8 billion.

If the Foreign Investment Promotion Board (FIPB) shows a green signal to the deal, Etisalat will become the biggest stake holder of Etisalat DB. At present the Gulf telco holds approximately 45% stake in the mobile operator after paying USD900 million for holding in September 2008.

Real estate firms including DBG Group held through Tiger Trustees are other major shareholders with almost 45.73% stake in the company apart from Delphi Investments holding 4.27% stake.

Filed under:Mobile Tagged with: Africa • ASIA • Chennai • DBG Group • Etisalat DB • FIPB • Genex Ventures • India • UAE