Puncom to make defence equipment

Punjab Communications Ltd (Puncom), a manufacturer and supplier of telecom and IT equipment, is planning a foray into the field of defence equipment.

The company is negotiating with defence equipment makers in Russia and European countries, and Israel to enter into a technical tie-up in the field of electronic and communications equipment, Puncom Managing Director Anurag Verma said here.

"The defence equipment makers will provide us technical know-how for manufacturing electronic and communication items for the defence sector," he said.

Through the alliance, which could be a multiple tie-up, the Punjab government-owned body is keen on addressing Indian defence sector's requirements of communications products such as static network and mobile network, the official said.

"We would like to become an important player in the defence sector for the supply of electronic and communication products," he said.

The company is also looking to consolidate its positions in the synchronous digital hierarchy SDH) and dense wave division multiplexing equipment (WDM) segments.

"This sector has also shown steep growth and offers immense opportunities to companies like us for capitalising on it," he said, adding, "That is why we have decided to address this market also."

The Punjab government holds a 71 per cent stake in Puncom. The company has strategic tie-up with Chinese telecom products major Huawie and Bangalore-based optical telecom transmission equipment maker Ordyn.