Andrew plans migration to 3G, 4G technologies

Panaji, Jan 18 (UNI) US-headquartered Andrew Corporation, a global leader in communication systems and products, has planned migration to third and even fourth generation mobile phone platforms.

''We plan to go in for seamless migration from 2G to 3G and even 4G technologies which India is likely to woo in the near future as the country is witnessing the biggest ever growth of the mobile phone penetration not seen elsewhere in the world except China,'' company president and CEO Ralph E Faison said here today.

Interacting with media persons after launching the expanded new radio frequency cable products and antennae manufacturing facility at the Verna Industrial Estate, Mr Faison said the facility meets the product requirements of entire country.

''With India growing at a faster rate with the wireless operators building 75,000 new base stations each with 3 antennae per site each year, we do not want to lag behind in providing them equipment of the highest quality,'' Mr Faison said.

The company recorded a turnover of 2 billion dollars last year globally through manufacturing bases in 35 countries, and registered a sales turnover of about 100 million dollars in India. The company expects to perform better this year owing to rapid expansion of the sector, he said.

The company has already invested about 100 million dollars in India, with an equal amount of working capital, since the launch of operations here in 1997.

''The company could go in for further expansion of its Goa facility as demand for handsets is likely to touch 300 million sets by next year as against the current 150 million,'' Mr Faison said.

The corporation's manufacturing facility in China employs over 4,000 employees as against the total strength of 1,100employees in facilities all over the world. The China facility has both R&D and Design centres and caters to the entire Asia Pacific region, he informed.

Company group president (antenna and cable products segment) John De Sana said the Goa facility has state-of-the-art radio frequency equipment.

India invests 6 billion dollars in the mobile technology solutions market annually as against 60 billion dollars world over, he said while adding that few small-time Chinese companies too have entered the competition but do not have manufacturing base like Andrew's in India.

UNI