Cisco enters SEZ market

IT infrastructure and support services major, Cisco, is foraying into the special economic zone (SEZ) and large retail infrastructure markets through its recently launched 'advisory services'.

The company has already bagged contracts to set up the complete IT and communication infrastructure for two upcoming SEZs in the country, while more such contracts for SEZs and retail chain establishments are in the pipeline.

Cisco, which also has a provision for finance support for IT and communication infrastructure, launched it 'advisory services' for the first time in the country around two months back.

Cisco senior vice-president (services) GB Kumar told Business Standard that the company, so far, was providing technical and advanced services to it clients, which provided either reactive or proactive solutions based on concurrent demands and requirements.

"This is for the first time that Cisco has launched advisory services in India, which provide a unified communication solution to huge establishment like an SEZ or a retail chain. The advisory service provides a complete IT and communication service master plan, which is fully customised. Then, it engages service providers to roll out these plans," Kumar said.

"Through the advisory services, Cisco takes the responsibility to guide the owners of SEZs and retail malls about the IT infrastructure they need. It is not about just how many servers or ports an SEZ needs. Cisco provides the complete solution and gets it executed through a service provider like Bharti Airtel or any other company," he added.