As the telecom sector in India goes through its own consolidation — and some exiting business as well — the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) has suggested blockchain solutions can be one of the options that can benefit telecom management systems.
The ‘Consultation Paper on Review of Mobile Number Portability (MNP) process’ released by TRAI said that “Every participant in the network can be given access to the information available on the blockchain through the use of ‘keys’ and ‘signatures’ associated with their roles in the MNP process, and can control/ validate how the record of information is amended or updated in the centralised server.”
Blockchain is a shared ledger that can record each transaction by all the participants in the network and share information as and when required across the network in a transparent way.
Through the use of requisite permissions, the security and accuracy of assets is maintained cryptographically and are controlled by the participants. “The most important advantage of this technology is that the record of transactions is immutable and cannot be changed by any of the participant at any stage,” it said.
The regulator said it is initiating a consultation paper covering all the issues to ‘review and revamp’ the existing process and make it more convenient for telecom subscribers.
Some of the queries are include suggestion on any other methodology that can address the issues being faced in the existing MNP process; how can know your customer information available with donor operator be verified during the MNP process to avoid fraudulent porting; and what would be the appropriate mechanism to reinforce the accountability and role of mobile number portability service provider in the proposed scenario.
Seeks comments
TRAI has sought written comments from stakeholders by May 3, and has set May 17 as the deadline for counter comments on the issue.
“This new paper will not only help the operators to send their detailed inputs to the Authority but it will also enable the authority to address certain new issues, which have emerged since the notification and applicability of the Regulation in the year 2009 and 2011, respectively," Rajan S Mathews, Director general, COAI, said.