US asks India to reconsider Telecordia's case

The US embassy has requested India to give telecom company Telecordia Technologies, whose licence has been recommended for revocation by Ministry of Home Affairs, a fair chance to present its case.

Telecordia is one of the two licencees 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 Telecordia's Indian arm MNP Interconnection Telecom Solutions (MITS) and its operations in Pakistan. It wanted the licence given to Telecordia to start mobile number portablity 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 Telecordia 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 licence 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 concenrs that may rise," he said.