Alcatel opens Rs 212cr WiMax research centre

Telecom major Alcatel, in association with the Indian government's Centre for Development of Telematics (C-DOT), has set up its first-ever specialised WiMax research centre in Chennai at an investment of Rs 212 crore.

Alcatel's chairman and CEO Serge Tchuruk said that the research centre, called CDOT Alcatel Research Centre, will initially employ 300 people.

He described WiMax as one among two to three important technologies in telecommunications. WiMax uses radio signals to connect computers, doing away with the need for wires.

CDOT Alcatel Research would eventually lead to India being Alcatel's fourth major research and development centre. Europe, North America and China are other areas where the company carries out important research.

The R&D work will include radio access network based on Alcatel WiMax 802.16e. According to Dayanidhi Maran, Union Minister for Communications and Information Technology, Alcatel's work is going to set WiMax standards in India.

Alcatel will hold 51 per cent equity stake in the research centre, while the balance will be held by CDOT. All the intellectual property generated will be jointly held.

The CDOT Alcatel Research Centre's revenue will come from its intellectual property. The centre will out-license its property to manufacturers and receive royalty for the same. Maran said the centre is expected to make profits in five years.

According to the agreement between Alcatel and the Indian government, Alcatel will market the R&D centre's work outside India.