Thakur
Banned
- Joined
- 30 Aug 2013
- Messages
- 14,856
- Reaction score
- 8,575
Domestic electronics manufacturer
Simmtronics today said it will start producing
set-top-boxes (STB) under its own brand name
and is investing Rs 30 crore to ramp up its
production facility.
"We have been manufacturing STBs for other
companies but now we have decided to make it
under our own brand name. Leading DTH and
cable service companies have approached us,"
Simmtronics Managing Director Indrajit
Sabharwal told PTI.
"We will be initially investing Rs 30 crore to
ramp up our production facility at Greater
Noida plant," he added.
The company has a manufacturing plant in
excise duty-free zone which gives it an
advantage to make STB 10-12 per cent cheaper
than other manufacturers in the country, he
said.
Also, government has declared STBs as
Telecom Network Equipment, a move that will
help domestic companies produce them at
more competitive prices by availing tax
exemptions as VAT would come down to 4 per
cent from 12-14 per cent.
Sabharwal said that price competitiveness has
attracted DTH and cable operators to directly
procure from Simmtronics.
"Operators are cumulatively looking for about
10 lakh STBs in three months. We are working
to meet their demand. Initially we will ramp up
production capacity to 3 lakh unit per month
and scale as per demand. First batch of
production should be ready within 30 days,"
he said.
Simmtronics has plans to make STB with Wi-Fi
router that will convert any television set into
a Smart TV which will enable customers to
browse You-Tube, Google, Facebook etc on
existing television.
"We are looking for at least 10 per cent
market share in STB business in India which
will add a minimum of Rs 500 crore to our
revenue in 2015. We plan to grow this
business to very large volumes and intends to
get 25 per cent market share in the next 2
years," Sabharwal said.
In the initial phases of cable TV digitisation,
Indian manufacturers were able to secure only
5 per cent of the market as imported STBs
were cheaper. Government later imposed some
taxes on imported STBs which gave level
playing field to domestic firms.
Simmtronics also manufactures mobile phones
and tablets.
Simmtronics today said it will start producing
set-top-boxes (STB) under its own brand name
and is investing Rs 30 crore to ramp up its
production facility.
"We have been manufacturing STBs for other
companies but now we have decided to make it
under our own brand name. Leading DTH and
cable service companies have approached us,"
Simmtronics Managing Director Indrajit
Sabharwal told PTI.
"We will be initially investing Rs 30 crore to
ramp up our production facility at Greater
Noida plant," he added.
The company has a manufacturing plant in
excise duty-free zone which gives it an
advantage to make STB 10-12 per cent cheaper
than other manufacturers in the country, he
said.
Also, government has declared STBs as
Telecom Network Equipment, a move that will
help domestic companies produce them at
more competitive prices by availing tax
exemptions as VAT would come down to 4 per
cent from 12-14 per cent.
Sabharwal said that price competitiveness has
attracted DTH and cable operators to directly
procure from Simmtronics.
"Operators are cumulatively looking for about
10 lakh STBs in three months. We are working
to meet their demand. Initially we will ramp up
production capacity to 3 lakh unit per month
and scale as per demand. First batch of
production should be ready within 30 days,"
he said.
Simmtronics has plans to make STB with Wi-Fi
router that will convert any television set into
a Smart TV which will enable customers to
browse You-Tube, Google, Facebook etc on
existing television.
"We are looking for at least 10 per cent
market share in STB business in India which
will add a minimum of Rs 500 crore to our
revenue in 2015. We plan to grow this
business to very large volumes and intends to
get 25 per cent market share in the next 2
years," Sabharwal said.
In the initial phases of cable TV digitisation,
Indian manufacturers were able to secure only
5 per cent of the market as imported STBs
were cheaper. Government later imposed some
taxes on imported STBs which gave level
playing field to domestic firms.
Simmtronics also manufactures mobile phones
and tablets.
