Extreme sets up R&D centre in Chennai

Extreme Networks Inc, a US-based IT company operating in the open converged networks space, has established its first research and development centre outside the US in Chennai, at an estimated subrange investment of $10 million.

The wholly-owned Indian subsidiary, Extreme Networks India, is planning to increase its headcount from 30 software engineers to 100 over the next 12 months.

At the R&D centre, the engineers will be developing and verifying new software and capabilities which go into their global product and solutions portfolio. This will be the company's fourth R&D centre, the other three being in the US.

"After surveying several cities, Chennai was chosen for the R&D centre because of its infrastructure, pool of talent and top grade educational institutions. The investment is into office and lab space," said Suresh Bopparaju, centre head, software engineering, Extreme Networks India. The Chennai facility has a built-up space of 21,000 sq ft.

Extreme Networks India plans to leverage its global partnership with Avaya in India to market and sell its switching and networking solutions in the domestic market.

The company markets and sells a range of solutions in IP telephony, security wireless, metro ethernet and products that include modular, fixed and wireless switches, security appliances, management tools and operating systems.

They focus on enterprise, service providers, government, education and medical verticals. The company's clientele includes Microsoft, Sun, NTT Group and Lockheed Martin Aeronautics Company.

For the 12 months ended June 27, 2004, the company's net revenue was $351.8 million.