What kind of services and support are you providing or planning under HCL's Telecom practice?
HCL has, over the years, built the capacity and capability to cater to all the outsourcing requirements of telecom service providers; the full spectrum of engineering services required for OEMs, and the solution requirements of enterprises. We have clearly articulated service lines for each of these segments.

In FY 2008-09, our service lines for OEMs would be engineering cost optimization, advanced technologies empowerment, and services and unified communications, etc. Furthermore, we also offers design, development, and product sustaining services for VoIP product vendors.

Telecom practice contributes 17% of HCL Technologies revenues. What are your plans to increase the same?
HCL's micro vertical approach has been yielding good results for the company. Our unique business models allow us to offer customer-centric value-based services.

How do you see VAS and mobile gaming in India?
Value added services and mobile gaming are fast pacing the growth of the telecom industry in India. The market today is said to be over Rs 4,500 crore. Many users in India wish to get more from their mobile phones than basic voice applications. These users drive the market and lead to the development of more advanced applications. Like VAS, mobile gaming is a major component in India's fast-growing wireless business. HCL has a strong presence in the areas of mobile applications like mobile multimedia, messaging, mobile gaming, and audio and video codecs. Our expertise will enable our customers (CSP) to enhance their customers' user experience.

In terms of innovation, what new projects are in the pipeline?
Our service line articulation is unique and we offer innovative services like engineering cost optimization, unified communications, and ticket lifecycle management. These service lines have been key growth drivers for us. The mobile carrier backhaul to the Ethernet core project and the enterprise mobility solution that we have created are good examples for the kind of innovative projects that we execute. We are increasing our Infrastructure investments that include an in-house test and certification, and packaging facility. In addition, we also set up an offshore lab for wireless network simulation and conformance testing. We have unique business models like global risk reward partnership and output-based pricing models. SME's in India are a strong focus area for HCL Technologies and we offer solutions to them through our infrastructure management services.

Jatinder Singh
jatinders@cybermedia.co.in