New Delhi, Feb 05: US-based telecom equipment maker, Tekelec, is betting big on India and is open to the idea of setting up a software research and development centre in the country.
''Tekelec, which outsources software development and support work to Wipro and Hughes software in India, will set up its own development centre as the business grows,'' company's president and chief executive officer (CEO) Frederick M Lax said.
''In the meantime we will continue to grow the business with Wipro and Hughes,'' Lax said.
In the short-term, the company expects its overseas revenue to contribute 40 per cent to the topline by 2005. ''At present 20 per cent of our revenues come from outside US and India and China will be our focus areas for increasing it to 40 per cent,'' he said.
Nasdaq-listed Tekelec's revenues in 2003 were 263.7 million dollars and Asia-Pacific accounted for four per cent of sales.
The company is also open to the idea of getting research work done from India in other technologies apart from software.
Tekelec, which at present supplies signalling systems to Reliance, Tata and Bharti, is also in talks with them for supplying switching systems to them for 3G Networks.
The company is also looking at country's biggest telecom operator, Bharat Sanchar Nigam Ltd (BSNL), as a customer. ''We will be participating in the BSNL contracts,'' Lax said. Apart from that it is talking to other telecom operators.
Tekelec is also keen on partnering ITI as a channel to support BSNL. It might also consider tie-ups with CDot and ITI on development work.
The company, which employs 10 people in India at present, will increase its headcount both in pre-sales and post-sales support.
California-based Tekelec has a design centre in Texas and provides telecommunications signaling and switching solutions, packet-telephony infrastructure, network monitoring technology, and value-added applications. Bureau Report