Make in India: Ericsson to make India hub for telecom equipment exports

Ericsson’s plan is to expand the non-telco business by 2018 and account from 15% to 20% of this business in India. The company upcoming facility is being set up with an initial investment of US $ 15 million.

By Geeta Nair

Swedish telecom equipment maker, Ericsson, will be making India a hub for exports to South East Asia West Asia and Sub Saharan Africa. Ericsson was the first telecom vendor to set up manufacturing operation in India in 1994 and now has added this export oriented facility.

The company plans to manufacture current and future products for 2G, 3G and 4G technologies at this plant including radio and microwave products. This plant will also be part of the company’s plant to expand from telecom into ICT, that includes infrastructure for data networks and data centres.

Ericsson’s plan is to expand the non-telco business by 2018 and account from 15% to 20% of this business in India. The company upcoming facility is being set up with an initial investment of US $ 15 million.
Paolo Colella, head of Region India, Ericsson, sad they partnered with the first wave of cellular operators and are now getting ready to tap the opportunity for growth as India goes digital and smart phone usage increased internet access. This new plant was an important step in the long term presence in India. “It will first service the booming Indian market and then export,” Colella said.

Nilis Magnus Nielsen, head of Ericsson’s Chakan facility, said they will start assembling base stations for mobile broadband and transmission equipment to connect the base station with the infrastructure. The Pune plant is Ericsson’s second one in India after Jaipur. The Chakan is identical to the plant in Rajasthan and will raise capacity and enable the company to export, Nielsen said.

They will start with manufacturing for telecom mobility broadband and transmission equipment for 3G and 4G by August-September. “Majority of what is shipped in India is made locally by Ericsson or through its partners,” Nielsen said. The company has also tied up with Sterlite Technologies to explore opportunites in the smart city segment.