Telecommunications

August 17, 2006
India WILL talk numbers now

Runa Mukherjee

NEW DELHI -- India has emerged as one of the world's top telecom markets. The wireless adoption rates alone highlight the growth potential of the Indian telecom market. India is the sixth largest wireless market in the world and will become the second largest by the year 2010. Telcordia has already entered this region and established itself as a leading global provider of telecommunications, network software and services for IP, wireline, wireless and cable. As the industry continuously evolves, Telcordia is focused on being the undisputed transformation partner for its customers. Number portability is one of the key services that is being introduced and promoted by Telcordia.

Convergence Plus spoke with Naveen Suri, vice president, global services on the subject of number portability, as follows:

Convergence Plus: How appealing is India as a market for number portability?

Naveen Suri: India is a very appealing market for number portability because the mobile market in India is growing rapidly as it is becoming easier for the consumers to acquire telephony services. Number portability is one such service capability that will provide a value proposition for the customer in the future. It will allow the consumers the choice of a service provider without having to change their number and that is the key reason why number portability is appealing to consumers. Maximising consumer value proposition is the key.

CP: How is Telcordia planning to bring it into India?

NS: Telcordia was the first company to introduce number portability in the world in 1994 in America. It offered toll-free number portability that resulted in higher volumes of toll-free numbers and competition. Today, Telcordia offers an end-end number portability solution globally. It offers training, consulting and advisory services, clearinghouse software, service provider gateways, and operations. The company will bring its numbering capability to India and will provide number portability services and software in conjunction with its local partners.

CP: What factors will the service depend on?

NS: The factors that make NP successful are as follows:

• Providing a balance between the consumer value proposition, the service provider business case, and the solution (the level of automation) in the solution;
• The price that is charged as service from the consumer for porting - the lower charge will stimulate NP service;
• Co-ordination and co-operation between service providers;
• Education of consumers.

CP: How much is the TRAI a determining factor for obtaining an agreement to set up this service in India?

NS: In every country where number portability has been successful, the regulator has played a critical and important role. Some of the areas of responsibility that the regulator provides include:

• Providing the link between the law and the actual implementation of that directive;
• Providing the means of reaching agreements;
• Settling on a particular method of implementation;
• Supplying the impetus to in creating an industry consortium;
• Giving leverage to the industry to develop a cost effective solution to regarding the operational and network aspects of the solution;
• Leveraging other worldwide experiences with other regulators and their experiences.

CP: What is the role of the network operators in the number portability service? Is it a profitable venture for them?

NS: The network operators provide an essential role in the deployment of number portability because their network must be able to rout a call to the correct destination. There are costs associated with the implementation but service providers and network operators can offer better value packages, price, and service quality to the consumers. This will allow them to gain customer loyalty.

CP: How much will it cost for the consumer to avail this service?

NS: Published data suggests that in Europe the average price charged to the consumer for number portability is Euros 8.38. In other countries there is no charge to port a number. In those countries where there is no charge (Finland, etc.) to the consumers number portability has been successful. Telcordia would like to point out that it sees a trend that developing nations are charging a much lower fee or not none at all.

CP: Which party will be getting the revenue of supplying this service, your company or the network operators?

NS: The neutral third party like Telcordia that provides number portability service to the industry and accepts fees from the service providers.

CP: Do you see number portability as a success story in India? Which other countries has number portability been introduced to?

NS: Yes, Telcordia believes that number portability in India is a service that should be offered to all the consumers. It is mandated in North America and EU countries. Number portability is now being introduced in developing nations like Saudi Arabia and Pakistan. Telcordia has had experience in US, Canada, Czech Republic, South Africa, Belgium, Greece, Lithuania, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, and many other countries worldwide. Telcordia is the worldwide leader in providing number portability solutions and the only company that has an end-end numbering solutions that has offered services to many countries globally.