ITI diversifying its manufacturing capabilities through partnership with start-ups

In a two day conference held in Bengaluru at the ITI campus, the PSU expressed on considering to provide space for incubation centres on a mutually agreed terms and condition and market the products manufactured by the start-ups on a royalty basis.

K. Alagesan, chairman and managing director, ITI Ltd said these start-up companies would manufacture products dealing with civil and military advanced radar systems, advanced edge router systems, next generation 5G technology products, data storage and networking solutions, digital security solutions, among others.

The agreement signed would also help ITI diversify its manufacturing capabilities in partnership with the start-ups thereby supporting the sustainable turnaround of ITI. These include civil and military advanced radar systems and the fifth generation or 5G technology products. The other areas include data storage and networking solutions, digital security, advanced metering, and Wi-Fi products.

“Funds will not be a problem. If a good innovation comes to us and manufactures a marketable product, then government has no dearth of funds (to support such companies financially),” Alagesan said.

ITI has bagged very important projects with the Government of India and is expecting to cross orders of over ₹20,000 crore from the present orders worth Rs. 12,000/- crore, K. Alagesan said. This includes the ₹7,500 crore ASCON Phase IV Project, the Army’s backbone telecom network.

ITI is working with 20 service providers by connecting 40,000 gram panchayats in the BharatNet project, where it has positioned its GPON Networks.

Alagesan further said that the company’s independent research and development in Bengaluru is contributing significantly to the revival story of ITI. Its latest products and solutions are addressing the requirement of high-speed encryption equipment for the access and network products in the Indian Army’s communication network.

“On the behalf of the whole company I promise him, the Minister and the DoT [Department of Telecommunications] that the company will leave no stone turned to forget our long darker days and once again rise to become a leader in the field of electronics, communication and allied sector,” said Alagesan.

As ITI was in the turnaround phase and facing shortage of expert manpower, Alagesan said that the government had approved enhancement of retirement age of ITI employees from 58 years to 60 years from July this year. “With this we will be able to complete the project in a time bound manner and chase turnaround goals,” he said.

Algesar also spoke about how the Make in India is becoming a success and is pushing ITI’s own agenda of Make in ITI.