Cisco to set up Network Academies across India

NEW DELHI: Cisco Systems, the leading data networking company in the world, will invest $8.6 million in setting up 34 networking education academies in all the states and union territories in India. This was announced by Cisco CEO John Chambers in New Delhi during a press conference, which addressed jointly by him and minister for information technology Pramod Mahajan.

"What is important is not the size of investment but the fact that Cisco, unlike other companies, is spreading this investment in the entire length and breadth of India. It has not just gone to one or two states which already have built their infrastructure," said Mahajan, thanking Chambers.

On his part, Chambers, praised the leadership of Mahajan, and outlined three major challenges for India to emerge as a leader in the Internet era. He said the first major challenge before the country is growing the GNP by developing infrastructure. The second challenge, according to Chambers, is building an effective corporate-government relationship. Here, government's understanding of technology will go a long way, he added. The third major challenge, he said, specifically for India, is to cash in on the global trends of outsourcing of software and services and use its capability to lead in the Internet economy.

He also announced setting up of a centre of excellence in networking technologies at an investment of $1.4 million. Chambers is on a three-day visit to India and will address CII and Nasscom members on Tuesday. Chambers will also deliver the keynote address at Cisco's Technology Showcase 2001, being held on January 15-16.