WNP required, not necessarily desired

Software vendors aim to help carriers meet FCC mandate, make money Wireless carriers may not want to focus resources on wireless number portability when they could be spending time and money on wireless Internet initiatives and third generation networks. However, the FCC has mandated that they implement a WNP solution by November 2002. Now Telcordia Technologies and Tekelec are ready not only to help carriers meet the deadline but generate additional revenue.

Last week, Telcordia announced its service management gateway for WNP, which is designed to help providers meet the FCC mandate and attract new customers.

"This is an opportunity for new carriers to put their best [foot] forward and ensure that their customers' experience is positive," said Bryan Mordecai, director of product marketing for Telcordia.

The company hopes its solution will ease intercarrier communications while helping to integrate their operations support systems. In addition, there is a number portability administration center interface that can manage porting flows (see figure).

Because WNP testing is expected to begin in early 2001, "carriers need to be actively looking at solutions and discussing them with vendors," Mordecai said. Telcordia has contracts with two of the five major wireless providers, he added.

While some operators are actively looking at implementing wireless number portability, others aren't as enthusiastic, he said. AT&T Wireless is reviewing WNP solutions, but the carrier has not yet seen any products that provide an easy way to solve the number portability issue, said Umesh Amin, director of new technology and planning for the technology development group at AT&T Wireless.

Verizon Wireless also claimed to be working on number portability but did not want to comment beyond that, said a spokeswoman.

Implementing a new technology involves time, money and personnel, which can cause carriers to stall, especially if it is only driven by regulation, said Ron Garrett, director of product marketing for Tekelec. "There always are technical challenges based on the specific technology and infrastructure," he said. "If something is not market-driven, companies will end up playing catch-up."

Tekelec's Eagle local number portability (LNP) solution integrates advanced database management and signaling functions directly into its signal transfer point. This can eliminate the need for dedicated external service control points and an associated link, which helps wireless and wireline carriers save on facilities costs.

While LNP between wireline and wireless networks is in its infancy, Tekelec is prepared to work with carriers during the transition. "A lot of people will expect to see the migration of customers from wireline to wireless. But the fact that they will have to change phone numbers will be annoying," said Rob Tinsley, senior manager of product marketing for Tekelec.

Garrett said that having WNP in wireless networks could create new revenue streams for carriers. "Our [carrier] customers realize the potential of moving [end] customers from wireline to wireless networks just as long as they get payback," he said.

Some wireless carriers have avoided LNP because they believe it will create churn, which is why they may try to delay the WNP deadline as they have in the past. However, this in itself could disappoint consumers, who wish to keep the same wireless number whether they change carriers or go completely wireless.

"Consumers hope that the deadline does not get pushed back," Garrett said. "The fear of churn is a non-issue because subscriptions are expanding at a high rate and there is plenty of business for everyone."