Telecom operator Sistema Shyam Teleservices has placed a USD 22 million (about Rs 100 crore) order with Russian firm Sitronics for various network related services, including the setting up of the Mobile Number Portability system.

Under the three year contract, Sitronics will provide telecom solutions like signalling transfer point (STP) platform, mobile number portability (MNP) solution, and managed services, said Sistema-Shyam Telecom Ltd (SSTL), which offers cellular services under MTS brand.

MNP, a service which allows users to retain their phone numbers while changing service providers, is likely to be implemented in the country by October 31, 2010.

"This (deal) comes at a time when SSTL is in the process of expanding the footprint of MTS, the mobile telephony brand of the company across India," SSTL said.

FORIS Billing, the solution which assists service operators in protecting their market share and customer relationship management (CRM) system, will be set up in all the new circles where MTS is rolling out services. It is currently sized to scale to 26 million subscribers.

The billing system will help the company to introduce new pricing plans for both retail and corporate customers of MTS.

The company, which sees itself as a strong data services provider, is operates in 12 telecom circles in the country, out of 22 circles for which it has the spectrum (radio waves).

Sitronics will also deliver a STP platform to SSTL. The commissioning of such a platform will enable SSTL to make its MTS telephony services accessible to a larger number of customers from other mobile service providers. This assumes significance as mobile number portability (MNP) is about to be implemented in India.

SSTL, which is planning to list the company here by early 2011, is a JV between Sistema of Russia and India's Shyam Group, which holds 23.5 per cent stake. The rest, 2.5 per cent, is held by the public.

SSTL was given telecom licence for pan-India operations in January 2008 and has CDMA spectrum for all the circles.

Sitronics provides telecom solutions, including software, equipment and systems integration.