ZTE eyes $800 million revenue in India in 2014

Company plans to invest $10 million next year on marketing and branding initiatives

Chinese telecom equipment and smartphone maker ZTE Corp said, on Thursday, that it aimed to increase revenue in India to about $800 million (Rs 4990 crore) in 2014. The company is already in process of expanding its retail network in the world’s second largest population.

ZTE India has registered revenue of $400 million during the first 10 months of 2013 despite a slowdown in the telecom sector, the company said in a statement.

ZTE, which is the world’s fifth largest telecom equipment and smartphone maker, also said that it would invest about $10 million on marketing and branding initiatives in India. It also has plans to open new retail stores, including exclusive experience zones, in India to increase sales of its smartphones here.

In India, ZTE manages 4G network for Bharti Airtel in circles like Kolkata and Punjab. It also manages networks for Sistema Shyam Teleservices in some circles. It also tie-ups for devices like dongles with various Indian operators, including Sistema Shyam Teleservices.

ZTE India will also continue to focus on strengthening its 4G, it said in a statement.

Xu Dejun, CEO, ZTE India, said that the company has 36 million terminals users in India. ZTE, which recently started selling open market handsets, will also open an online store for Indian market soon, he added.