Processing .....please wait.. 
The article has been forwarded.... 
News >> Technology >>
Alcatel, C-DoT signs pact for R&D
By agencies
|
Wednesday, 30 March 2005, 20:30 IST
NEW DELHI: French telecom major Alcatel has signed an agreement with Center for Development of Telematics (C-DoT) to set up a global research and development center for broadband wireless products.
The joint venture facility, to be established in Chennai, will employ 1,000 people and initially work on WiMax based technology.
Alcatel has also decided to manufacture telecom equipment for GSM-based cellular network with the Indian Telephone Industries (ITI).
Initially, equipment for about 5 million GSM lines will be manufactured at ITI factories. Of this, 2 million lines will be exported to the Russian and African markets. State-owned telecom behemoth Bharat Sanchar Nigam Ltd for its cellular expansion in western India will use the remaining 3 million lines. ITI's unit in Rae Barielly will be used for manufacturing the equipment.
Union Minister for Communication and IT, Dayanidhi Maran, said: "This is only the beginning of a relationship with Alcatel. It took a lot of convincing from our side to get Alcatel manufacture in India."
Maran said the joint project will also provide an appropriate platform for tele-education, tele-health, e-information and e-governance apart from enabling us to meet the targets of 250 million phones.
The tie-up with Alcatel comes after Maran met top company officials at the recently concluded 3GSM World Congress at Cannes in France.
The R&D facility will cater to not only the Indian market but also to Alcatel's global network.
"The first R&D project to be implemented jointly will be related to WiMax technology. We will expand the portfolio to other wireless broadband technology," said Etienne Fouques, President, Mobile Communications Group, Alcatel.