In approved
NTP 12 document, the Indian government clearly stated long term vision for
telecom sector - to exploit the already built foundation to create
unprecedented communication reach across Indian geographies. It also set very
aggressive targets on teledensity, potential network deployments to serve and
offer Indian people very cost effective communications services.
I have already highlighted in my earlier blog posts, MNPRegulation – Regulator’s Vision Verses Reality and UnrealisticNational Telecom Policy vision to achieve 70% Teledensity by 2017 & 100% by2020, the current pattern of broadband and logical challenges in achieving the
set goal by the government. But the most interesting vision is to
- Strive to create One Nation - One License across services and service areas.
- Achieve One Nation - Full Mobile Number Portability and work towards One Nation -Free Roaming.
Currently, Two
MNPO’s are managing dipping database and service providers in the respective
zones and are integrating their networks through centralized database
development to get the real time update.
In a current
scenario, the mobile user can only make donor to receipt mobile operator switch
within their current service geography or circle.
Is there a
need of “Full MNP” when one license across services and service area is going
to be implemented?
In a scenario
of national roaming abolishment; Intra circle roaming would be abolished and
all operator level switch would not be limited to specific circle level. Once
intra circle level roaming under one license regime comes into force, it would
automatically enable ported out user free movement and flexibility of keeping
same MSISDN across service geography. It would automatically offer full MNP
across recipient’s mobile operators’ service geographies.
The mobile
operators would be forced to pay carriage fee in order to correctly connect and
deliver voice call and SMS respectively. On the capex and opex front, the
Mobile Operator’s, International Long Distance Operator’s would be forced to
remodel centralized ported user database, SMS aggregation platform as well as
realign their service logic and business logic in order to correctly redirect
voice and SMS traffic. I have not seen any updated regulatory document about
the changes required to be done on the dipping database update side.
Even more surprising
that regulator are in consultation with stakeholders, post deciding on the
policy without zeroing in on the licensing, potential solutioning impact on the
user and network performance and cost attached with it.
In my point of
view, free roaming would remove the need of Full MNP. The existing mechanism of
limited MNP would automatically be extended to Full MNP. The regulators may opt
for the clear specifications defining all the raised concerned points by the
stakeholders to reduce the revenue loss fear and associated cost. The consultation
regarding the licenses and associated cost, post policy approval is bit
surprising. I must stress that there are multiple hidden business opportunities
for ecosystem stakeholders out of the unwarranted challenges around Full MNP
and free roaming.
