Indian start-up to make 3G/WiMAX products

BANGALORE: Here's an Indian start-up company that aims to revolutionize data services in the country by rolling out indigenously developed wireless base stations.

The latest entrant into the Indian products arena, Sloka Telecom, has plans to supply wireless infrastructure products in WiMAX and 3G, such as base stations, etc. for the Indian and international markets.

According to co-founder & CEO, Sloka Telecom, Sujai Karampuri, “Sloka has developed its unique architecture that allows them to provide solutions, which allow a cellular operator to roll out different technologies - like 3G and WiMAX, with minimal capital.”

Slated to hit the markets towards the end of Q1 2006, the product could provide a major boost to the ARPU-starved cellular operator with its cost-effectiveness. With an ambitious vision to bring down the cost of networking equipment, the company plans to “drastically lower the cost of base stations to suit the emerging markets.”

For cellular operators, looking at WiMAX as a competing technology, this will open up new revenue avenues. “We are making it a collaborative technology, so cellular operators are in the best position to roll out WiMAX, and this will allow them to increase their subscriber base,” he added.

Bangalore-based Sloka aims to create products unique to the Indian market. “Currently, Indian operators use solutions meant for foreign countries. We make it so modular that he (the operator) can choose. We are trying to commoditize base stations so that, deployment at a mass level becomes a viable option,” says Karampuri.

Currently, product development is done outside the country, but the company is in talks with Indian manufacturers to create 'Made in India' products.

“Another five years and India will see a lot more product making companies--they are struggling now--needs few success stories to get the others thinking,” adds Karampuri, on an optimistic note.