Kyocera eyes broadband in Russia, India and U.S.

KYOTO, Japan, Nov 8 (Reuters) Japanese electronic parts maker Kyocera Corp. said on Wednesday it was eyeing high-growth markets like Russia, India and the United States for its iBurst wireless broadband system, in a bid to raise revenues about tenfold in three years.

The Kyoto-based company hopes to raise annual revenues from its iBurst base stations to 10 billion yen ( million), up from about 1 billion to 2 billion yen this year, Kyocera President Makoto Kawamura told Reuters in an interview.

The company hopes to get iBurst online in the United States by March, as well as in Malaysia, Norway, Tanzania and the Netherlands, he said.

''IBurst offers good connectivity for people on the move,'' Kawamura said. ''If we can get carriers interested, the growth potential is there.'' The company also aims to raise profit margins in its historically loss-making mobile phone handset segment to 5 percent next business year, up from a forecast 1.6 percent in the current year to March, Kawamura said.

Kyocera has seen no inventory pile-up of its components, used in electronic devices like mobile phones, game consoles and flat TVs, ahead of the Christmas spending season, Kawamura said.

But worries remain about a supply glut next year after electronics companies complete their capacity expansion plans, he said.

Kyocera has raised its full-year profit forecast after posting record first-half sales of its fine ceramic and chip components.

REUTERS SBA BD1330