Tech Mahindra, Intel set up tele solutions lab

IT services and telecom solutions provider Tech Mahindra (formerly Mahindra British Telecom) and chipmaker Intel today announced the setting up of a "Next Generation Telecom Solutions Lab" at Tech Mahindra's development centre in Pune.

Announcing the launch, Tech Mahindra's president (International Operations), C P Gurnani said, "We have launched this lab in partnership with Intel, where Intel as the hardware provider and our expertise in the telecom domain will together develop solutions that will cater to the telecom service providers as well as equipment manufacturers' needs."

Detailing the services of the lab as testing, developing, validations, porting and certifying applications for working on the Intel platform, Gurnani said, "Both the parties have earmarked adequate funding for the laboratory for the next three years."

This lab is also significant as it is the first of its kind in India where Intel has partnered with an IT software and services company for developing applications focused on IP Services category.

Sharing the reason for partnering with Tech Mahindra as synergy in focus areas, John McClure, managing director, (sales and Marketing, South Asia), Intel Corporation said, "Of our 5 major focus areas digital homes, digital offices, digital health, mobility and channel platforms, we saw synergy with Tech Mahindra in all, except for channel platforms."

He also emphasised that the applications developed here will be deployed anywhere in the world and not just in India.

Pointing out to the fact that the mobile penetration in the country is rapidly growing, Gurnani said, "India is poised to lead in many of the application services to be rolled out of the lab. As such we needed to be responsive to the market need of creating new services and applications and providing upgradation services to telcos with legacy systems. This lab will work to deliver twice the performance at half the cost, as we optimise the hardware and innovate on the software to create a solution for the Indian customer."

Speaking of the labs capability to develop multiple applications, Gurnani showcased a few that would be in demand in the coming years, "With the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India likely to mandate number portability soon, we have an application that allows creation of a universal personal number. Another widely required service will be IP Multimedia Subsystem (IMS) based video on demand with real time charging and IP conferencing with 3G coming into play."

Tech Mahindra to open facility in Chandigarh

Tech Mahindra will set up new development centre near Chandigarh. Vinet Nayyar, managing director, Tech Mahindra, said the company has been allotted 10 acres of land in the speacial economic zone (SEZ) in Chandigarh.

Nayyar said, "The government of Chandigarh has allotted us 10 acres of land in the upcoming SEZ in Chandigarh. We will begin construction there in the next 3-4 months."

The centre will house 1,000 people over the next two years, he added. Noting that this development also marks the foray of Tech Mahindra into tier II cities, Nayyar said, "Pune will remain the epicentre for the company, but we will also foray into the tier II cities."

Also on the cards are centres in Kolkata and Jaipur, which will be set up susequently, said Nayar adding that the company will also begin the construction at Hinjawadi next month.