WiMax players to set up more software centers in India

New Delhi: India is emerging as a favorite spot for leading WiMax players to develop WiMax application software. Leading players such as Alcatel-Lucent, Alvarion, Telsima, Beceem, Wavesat and Motorola are busy setting up WiMax software development and manufacturing facilities in India, reported The economic Times.

Currently, companies who have set up manufacturing and R&D facilities, have already invested around $2 billion in India for WiMax development.

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The C-DoT Alcatel-Lucent Research Centre (CARC) in Chennai, which completed India's first live WiMax IEEE 802.16e-2005 (also called Rev-e) field trial using Aircel's licenced spectrum, way back in 2007, will use the country as one of its key bases for this technological platform.

Alcatel-Lucent will utilize India for manufacturing broadband and WiMax equipment through a transfer of technology and contract manufacturing arrangement with state-owned ITI at Naini.

Other global firms are also looking at increasing production facilities in India. "Almost 33 percent of Beceems total chipset production happens in India. We are also looking at tying up with OEMs," said Beceems regional director Sunil Kumar. Beceems, a developer of semiconductor chips, solutions offering WiMax technology, is presently employing more than 130 engineers in its India R&D center at Bangalore.

Aricent, another major operator, has invested close to $400 million in its R&D center in India and employs more than 200 engineers to develop base station software as well as ASN gateway and plans to increase the headcount about 500 till next year.

Ajay Gupta, Aricent Head (wireless and convergence datacom) said, "Almost 80-90 percent of our total operations happen from India. The country contributes about 30 percent to the global market for WiMax equipment and softwares. India is a large market and we are keen on driving investment here."

According to Maravedis, a wireless market research firm estimates that India's decision to award WiMax spectrum 3.3 and 3.5 GHz frequency bands, equipment opportunities will rise rapidly from a mere $25 million at present. C S Rao mentioned that currently close to 2,000 engineers are already employed across the industry to develop WiMax enabled devices, application software and added that about 50 percent of global software development is happening in India.

Many start-ups have also emerged in WiMax related sector. For instance, U.S. based Telisma is working with Tata Teleservices on WiMax deployment; Sloka Telecom, another start-up, which has been building WiMax networks in France, Brazil and Indonesia, is also eyeing the Indian market.