Nokia Networks may look at India for producing 5G telecom systems

Finnish telecom broadband infrastructure software and services provider Nokia Networks will consider India as one of the production bases for making 5G telecom systems, said a senior company official on Wednesday.

Though Nokia Corporation had recently announced of an agreement with Alcatel Lucent to acquire it, Nokia Networks in India will work as an independent unit and compete against Alcatel Lucent till the clear signal on integration is obtained from the headquarters.

"We have been making equipments for 4G for quite some time here. The commercial implementation of the 5G is expected to be in 2018. Where the 5G network equipments would be made would be decided later," Satendra Singh, head of manufacturing operations, India, told reporters here.

He did not rule out explicitly that India being a production base for the 5G technology.

According to him, Nokia Networks would have to invest in testing equipments when it makes systems for 5G.

According to Karl Kirschenhofer, vice president, manufacturing operations, global, the company will be developing the 5G network and activities towards that have started.

He said the technology is being standardised and the first commercial implementation is expected to be in 2018 during the winter Olympics. Nokia Networks have signed an agreement with telecom player Docomo.

Sandeep Girotra, head, India region, said the 5G would be mainly on internet of things.

On Nokia Networks plans to increase the local content from the current 20 percent upwards, Kirschenhofer said over a three year period the localization levels in India is expected to be in the region of 45 percent.

Queried about the impact on hiring and retaining talent by Nokia Networks after the closure of Nokia's mobile plant near here, Girotra said there is no impact on the employee front.

The company is getting the required talent and is not losing out talent. On Wednesday Nokia Networks rolled out the two millionth unit since the plant started operations seven years back.

According to officials, nearly one third of the production is shipped overseas.

Earlier speaking at the function to commemorate the two million unit production achievement Amitabh Kant, secretary, department of industrial policy and promotion, said the slogan 'Make in India' is not for making a protective market but to make India a part of the global supply chain. He said the government is focused on making India an easy place to do business.