NetApp plans expansion, 2nd centre in B'lore

Network Appliance (NetApp), an enterprise storage solutions provider, plans to expand its Bangalore technology centre, the firm's largest R&D centre outside the US, in the coming months by investing close to $22 million (Rs 100 crore).

The Bangalore technology centre accounts for 12 per cent of NetApp's global workforce.

"The Bangalore office is the fastest growing centre of NetApp. At present, the India operations headcount stands at 550. We will hire another 200 IT professionals by November. We intend to set up a second centre in Bangalore to accommodate 1,200 professionals," NetApp president (India Operations) Vikram Shah told Business Standard.

NetApp opened the Bangalore technology centre, its fourth and second outside the US, in 2003.

According to Shah, the Bangalore centre is a macrocosm of NetApp's activities handling IT infrastructure, engineering, global support centre, market analytics and product management.

"The maturity level of the teams has increased over years. The Bangalore centre is a critical component of NetApp's worldwide activities. This centre will continue to grow," he added.

The company has invested $150 million so far in its Indian operations. "There is tremendous scope for growth in India from the perspectives of R&D and sales. We are particular about setting up a second centre in Bangalore since the ecosystem for growth is perfect. We expect it to happen over the next three years," Shah stated.

NetApp, which caters to the enterprise market in the telecom and BPO space, registered $2.07 billion in the fiscal 2006.

"We expect to hit the $3-billion mark by April this year. The Bangalore technology centre has key contribution towards this," he pointed out.

Shah said NetApp is the market leader in India in the storage space. "The Indian market is ripe for growth. NetApp is positioned to increase its market share by bringing in new systems."