ZTE Corp which finds itself at the receiving end of DoT’s directive banning import of telecom gear from Chinese companies is ready to open up and be as transparent as required by India’s government agencies to increase the credibility quotient of the company.

“We believe we (ZTE India) are an Indian company with Indians in top management and as our employees. But yes, if you go by the definition of an Indian company where Indians have stake, then we are planning to prove on that front also," said ZTE India’s Chairman and Managing Director Dr. D K Ghosh, considered to be one of the stalwarts of the Indian telecom industry.  

 "We are looking at setting up an equipment manufacturing facility in the country. We are examining the viability. Over the next few months, we also plan to bring in Indian investors and later, we will also list the company on Indian stock exchanges, but things will take time," added Dr. Ghosh to bring more conviction in the company’s efforts to prove its credibility quotient.

He added that the Indian unit has 90% Indians out of a total head count of 2,300 which will be increased to 3000 by the year end.

The company also announced plans to come up with a new Indian Engineering Centre (IEC) in Delhi which follows the company’s setting up of a new National Network Operation Center (NNOC). It will also expand the Bangalore centre which will provide training to 2,000 ZTE India local staff as well as 3000 local outsourcing partners.

Announcing the opening of the IEC, Dr. Ghosh who was present with Mr. Huang Dabin, CEO of ZTE India and Mr. Fan Qingfeng, EVP of ZTE Corporation explained, “As India is a strategic market, ZTE has provided more than 7000 job opportunities within the company and its partners. ZTE will continue to invest in technology and engineering to make sure we support the development of the telecom sector in every way possible, especially with 3G just around-the-corner.”

The company called for uniform regulations pertaining to clearance of telecom equipment in India. “Once the regulations are put in place, ZTE will proactively work with the relevant authorities to follow all the procedures of the test, and we are confident of clearing all required parameters.  And in the interim period, we hope to receive the same equal treatment that other manufacturers can expect in India,” said Dr. Ghosh.