CommScope to manufacture enterprise products in India

CommScope, a wired and wireless intelligent infrastructure and technology solutions for communications networks provider, has chalked out plans to strengthen its enterprise business in India. It is looking at starting the manufacturing of its SYSTIMAX enterprise products in its Goa factory in the next 2-3 months. The SYSTIMAX product portfolio includes fiber, copper and network infrastructure management offerings.

Presently, CommScope is manufacturing its wireless range of Andrew products; but now it is investing to extend its manufacturing capabilities for its enterprise structured cabling product.

Sharing its plans for the Indian market Stephen M Kowal, VP, global channel organization, CommScope said, "In India, we are having three line of businesses including enterprise, broadband and wireless, since long. The new initiative, we are working at is how to closer to the customers with our enterprise products. We would leverage on our Goa facility to manufacture structured cabling, this would give us a big advantage. We have also made direct investments in increasing head counts."

The company has added 5 business development mangers to its total strength of 1224 people, which includes 1,000 people at the Goa factory. This new hiring would allow CommScope to have direct access to the local market. Moreover, with the support of these managers, CommScope would start its interaction with 6 large SIs like IBM, Wipro, HCL Comnet, HCL Infosystems, AGC and HP.

Conventionally, CommScope does 99% of its enterprise business through indirect channels. It has four national distributors including Redington, Ingram Micro, Avnet and Anixter for its enterprise business. These national distributors further supports 60 installation partners. Apart from national distributors, the company is also at the juncture of geo-expansion by introducing second layer of regional distribution model.

Kowal also informed, "We are expanding our recently launched global partner program network beyond our existing distributors and installers. Now, we are covering integrators, consultants and alliances, which would complete by end of this year."

According to A Sitaramaiah, director, channel sales India and Saarc, CommScope, "Currently, we are present in 7 metros. Under the geo-expansion plan, we are strengthening our local reach to the next top 20 cities. We have asked our national distributors to select strong regional/sub-distributors in metros and non metros cities. However, we want to have 1-2 regional distributors in each of these cities."

"With all our plans, we have set high growth expectations from the Indian market. We are looking at having 40% growth from the enterprise space," signed off Kowal.