By forming consortiums worldwide, domestic telecom gear makers are eyeing at the opportunities to bring in the competitive edge following the Atmanirbhar Bharat (self-reliant India) initiative due to the outbreak of the pandemic Covid-19.
“An alliance between international partners and domestic companies will raise the opportunity for India to deliver digital networks, and device manufacturing for the world as part of the global supply chain, and indigenous solutions for 5g,” said Anand Agarwal, Chief Executive of Sterlite Technologies.
As the shift to digital is getting significant and considered to the permanent, and more investments to be required from the ecosystem providers, including government for Research and Development and towards building the digital infrastructure of the country.
Indian manufacturers see an active role in building globally competitive products and a robust local supply chain that could strengthen the country’s position in telecom equipment space, in the coming years.
Pune-based company has recently acquired IDS, the UK-based data center network infrastructure design and deployment specialist.
Sterlite is one of the few Indian companies having a multinational presence, having as many as 350 global patents for competitive products and solutions.
They have invested in 5g vRan company ASOCS, and technological advancements with IIT Chennai in addition to a partnership with the US-based VMWare, to deliver 5g access solutions for telcos and large enterprise customer and have design and Make-in- India partnership for 5g solutions with VVDN Technologies.
Tejas Networks, another Indian gear maker, a desi rival of Chinese giant Huawei Technologies, believes that India must have a design-led manufacturing approach that would create more job opportunities and a high value- addition and also address long-term strategic and security needs to become self-reliant.
Last month, Prime Minister Narendra Modi has launched an initiative and said the country should perceive the Covid-19 crisis as an opportunity to stressed the need of promoting local products, and to achieve economic self-reliance.
However, telecom equipment makers’ segment in India blame officials of circumventing the existing domestic manufacturing policy directions to favor foreign players or Make in India initiative.
The consortium-led approach would be a good move with a focus to take Indian companies to international levels in capacity and capabilities.
