Global smartphone manufacturer, HMD Global, which operates Nokia-branded mobile phones, plans to launch its feature phone and smartphones in India. The global smartphone maker is also in talks with more home-grown Contract Electronics Manufacturing Services (EMS) companies to grow its local ecosystem for its feature phone and smartphones. The technology giant has also inked deals with Dixon and Lava International in this regular and plans to launch mass-market 5G smartphones in India later this year.
According to HMD Global vice president Sanmeet Kochhar, the tech company plans to expand this with multiple EMS partners, mainly Indian companies. HMD Global is also closely working with its existing partners to build a local component ecosystem in the country.
“It is a collaborative effort between us and EMS partners both globally and India. They have networks for sourcing but we ourselves have a network and we keep evaluating partners in terms of quality of components required for the local needs,” Sanmeet Kochhar told.
The global handset maker saw positive growth from its feature phone business in India that saw a positive upswing in 2020. “We had a sustainable and profitable year in India in 2020. We will launch smartphones in the mid-segment for smartphones and will bring 5G phones,” Kochhar said.
The company raised $250 million from investors like Nokia Technologies, Google, and Qualcomm. The funding will be used for democratizing 5G and bringing 5G to the masses. India’s 5G smartphone shipments are expected to reach 38 million units in 2021 or 21% of the overall smartphone market, as per Counterpoint Research.