New Delhi: The US embassy has requested
India to give telecom company Telcordia Technologies, whose
licence has been recommended for revocation by Ministry of
Home Affairs, a fair chance to present its case.
Telcordia is one of the two licensees to implement in
India mobile number portability, which allows users to change
operators without changing numbers.
However, the Ministry of Home Affairs had raised
questions about ownership of Telcordia's Indian arm MNP
Interconnection Telecom Solutions (MITS) and its operations in
Pakistan. It wanted the license given to Telcordia to start
mobile number portability to be revoked.
Earlier this month, the Foreign Investment Promotion
Board (FIPB) also asked the Department of Telecom to address
the issues raised by Ministry of Home Affairs.
"In talks with the company and according to media
report, I understand that the FIPB and DoT are conducting an
inter-governmental post award evaluation of MITS's existing
license, casting a shadow of uncertainty over MITS's business
operations. I would like to ask that Telcordia Technologies
be treated in a fair manner during this revaluation process.
"To date, the company has received no official
communication explaining your Government's re-evaluation of
its license and operations -- an evaluation that carried
important implications for its business in India," said
Carmine D' Aloisio, Minister Counselor for Commercial Affairs,
said in a letter to Finance Secretary Ashok Chawla. .
"I respectfully urge you to give the company an
opportunity to satisfy any outstanding concerns that may
rise," he said.
-PTI
First Published: Wednesday, January 27, 2010, 21:55