Scaling up its commitment to India, Nokia, the world's largest mobile phone company, on Friday announced the setting up of a global network solution centre in Chennai.
The centre will offer network operation services to its global customers, which will be operational in the first quarter of next year with 100 professionals.
The centre which will provide services to its managed networks in Asia Pacific, Europe and Africa would also serve Nokia's 3G customers outside India, Bosco Novak, senior vice president at Nokia Networks, said in Chennai.
The company, however, did not disclose the amount of investment in the facility, but Novak said it would be in addition to the over $150 million investment in the manufacturing plant, also to come up in Chennai.
The Finnish cellular handset major sees the setting up of the centre, as its drive to ease cost pressure on the clients.
Nokia has contracted management services with 35 clients in 28 countries, and has provided operating services for over 20 operators globally, helping them with the day-to-day tasks of running their networks, he said. Nokia claims to be a leader in this growing market.
Novak said India currently has the fastest growing mobile market. "India is very important market for Nokia," he said. Nokia Networks generates roughly 20 per cent of total sales for the company.
IT & Communications Minister Dayanidhi Maran said: "This investment reaffirms India's position as the country for expanding global telecom companies."
