Qualcomm upbeat on its R&D centre in Hyderabad

California-based Qualcomm Incorporated, the world's largest provider of code division multiple access (CDMA) technology, has indicated that the proposed research and development (R&D) centre in Hyderabad was under consideration and details of this would be announced in the next couple of months.

Rishi Dhingra, director (business development), Qualcomm India, said that the company was evaluating the project and a decision was expected in about two to three months. The R&D centre would be the first centre that the company will be setting up in India.

According to Rishi Dhingra, CDMA, which was finding wide applications among telecom companies in the country, could be upgraded to offer third-generation (3G) services as the International Telecommunication Union's (ITU) global standard for 3G wireless communication was based on CDMA technology.

"The 3G networks have the ability to support both data and voice streaming with great efficiency by optimal use of spectrum. While operators are increasingly finding new ways of enhancing their ARPUs (average revenue per user)," Dhingra said.

"Operators are finding that only voice-based services are not generating adequate revenues and are seeking ways to offer data streaming which has a great potential for growth as eCommerce spreads," he added.

He said that as the number of people moving across various networks increases, inter-operability between these distinct networks would be a key aspect for access.

Dhingra said that though the number of manufacturers at present producing these world phones are less at present, this number would go up as the demand in increases.