 "Qualcomm interest in mobile phone manufacture in India")
US-based chip maker Qualcomm says it intends to help domestic telephone companies to move from assembling to design and building of products.
Paul Jacobs, its executive chairman, met electronics and information technology minister Ravi Shankar Prasad and telecom minister Manoj Sinha on Monday. They reportedly discussed issues regarding chip production, satellite connectivity, and telecom spectrum.
“We want to help local manufacturers design products here, build products here, build supply chains here,” Jacobs said after the meetings.
Asked if Qualcomm would start production of chipsets in India, he said they had initial discussions with manufacturers but not reached a stage where production details could be firmed up. Prasad said,
“They really intend to expand their footprint. They are very excited about expansion of mobile manufacturing in India.” He said he had asked Qualcomm to explore the possibility of bringing satellite connectivity in the country's hilly areas. Jacob also discussed a satellite project with Sinha, which the company expects to launch in 2019-20.
"We spoke about investment in a satellite company called OneWeb that is going to build over 700 satellites, launch those by 2019 and 2020. It will provide mobile broadband to most remote areas and will have connectivity from a terminal on ground," he said.
He commended the telecom minister on the coming auctions of spectrum and the fact that the ministry had been able to harmonise, in particular, the 1,800 MHz band.
Asked about investments in India, Jacobs said, “When I saw the Prime Minister in September in Silicon Valley, we announced that we would have a $150-million venture fund. Since September, we have invested $23 mn (Rs 155 crore) on five companies so far, and will continue to invest in our research and development capabilities here.”
Paul Jacobs, its executive chairman, met electronics and information technology minister Ravi Shankar Prasad and telecom minister Manoj Sinha on Monday. They reportedly discussed issues regarding chip production, satellite connectivity, and telecom spectrum.
“We want to help local manufacturers design products here, build products here, build supply chains here,” Jacobs said after the meetings.
Asked if Qualcomm would start production of chipsets in India, he said they had initial discussions with manufacturers but not reached a stage where production details could be firmed up. Prasad said,
“They really intend to expand their footprint. They are very excited about expansion of mobile manufacturing in India.” He said he had asked Qualcomm to explore the possibility of bringing satellite connectivity in the country's hilly areas. Jacob also discussed a satellite project with Sinha, which the company expects to launch in 2019-20.
"We spoke about investment in a satellite company called OneWeb that is going to build over 700 satellites, launch those by 2019 and 2020. It will provide mobile broadband to most remote areas and will have connectivity from a terminal on ground," he said.
He commended the telecom minister on the coming auctions of spectrum and the fact that the ministry had been able to harmonise, in particular, the 1,800 MHz band.
Asked about investments in India, Jacobs said, “When I saw the Prime Minister in September in Silicon Valley, we announced that we would have a $150-million venture fund. Since September, we have invested $23 mn (Rs 155 crore) on five companies so far, and will continue to invest in our research and development capabilities here.”
