MediaTek: Local Language Support and Rich Multimedia Capabilities Are Key to Tap Indian Market

To tap the rural telecom market, MediaTek India incorporated features such as local language support, rich multimedia capabilities like music player and video player as well as good battery life in its chipsets to cater to the market. In an interview with TelecomLead.com, Grant Kuo, managing director, MediaTek India, said MediaTek released a solution i.e. MT6268 which is based on WCDMA technology with Dual SIM + multimedia to address the 3G market. The new solution passed multiple IOT tests and certified by operator around the world, and soon the company will have MT6573 with HSPA solution.

1.       What are your initiatives to become the best mobile chipset partner for India mobile makers?
To become the preferred chipset maker of Indian handset makers, MediaTek platforms create accessibility to innovative and advanced mobile functionalities for the entire user spectrum. We have incorporated a number of features such as local language support (we support 12 Indian languages), rich multimedia capabilities (music player and video player) as well as good battery life in our chipsets to cater to the market.
2.       What is the uniqueness of the latest single chipset solution MT6253?
MediaTek’s  first GSM/GPRS single chip solution i.e. Integrating all essential electronic components, including DBB, ABB, power management unit and RF transceiver onto a single chip, the MT6253 can further reduce the materials costs of a complete mobile phone. Equipped with strong peripheral supports including camera, high speed USB and Class D audio AMP, MediaTek’s MT6253 is the most highly integrated chip in the market for mobile communication. These features allow the production of slimmer phones.
3.       How are you planning to tap the 3G market in India?
According to global consultancy firm PwC, the 3G subscriber base is expected to grow to around 107 million by 2015 out of which 24% will be rural subscribers. At the forefront of this growth in rural India will be low cost mobile handsets.
The consumers in semi urban and rural areas, who have been the traditional users of low cost handsets, now demand high end features at affordable rates. This presents a big opportunity for Mediatek. MediaTek aims to become the most reliable mobile chipset partner in Indian market by working closely with handset manufacturers and operators.  
At present we have a solution i.e. MT6268 which is based on WCDMA technology with Dual SIM + multimedia and has passed multiple IOT tests and certified by operator around the world, and soon we will have MT6573 with HSPA solution. Technology has been released from our end and brands shall be in a position of releasing it soon.
4.       What are your unique solutions to meet the demands in rural markets?
According to a report by Deloitte, rural India is expected to drive mobile penetration in India in the next four years since it is expected to play a vital role for the government in its financial inclusion programme.
Mobile market penetration is projected to increase further to 82 percent by 2014; mainly due to the service providers increasing their focus on the rural market and lower handset prices says Gartner.
These predictions highlight the potential of the rural market in India.
In order to tap this market, we have incorporated features such as local language support, rich multimedia capabilities (music player and video player) as well as good battery life in our chipsets to cater to the market.
5.       What are the specific demands of Indian handset vendors?
We believe that the growth of handset market is promising in India in the coming years. According to a recent Gartner survey, major handset manufacturers view India as a very attractive investment because it is projected to have the most rapid growth of mobile users worldwide 660 million mobile users in India by end of 2010.This growth would be driven by the fast growing mobile subscriber base, increasing penetration of low-cost handsets in India, growing rural telephony and the rising demand for affordable Value-Added-Services.
In order to cater to this growing demand, handset makers differentiate themselves on the base of the value for money they can provide to the customers and incorporating features that can be launched quickly.
 6.       With the handset prices touching $25, what are the new initiatives to meet customer demands?
MediaTek’s provides a complete solution and we are efficient in providing a local support. We also enjoy a good relationship with ODMs/OEMs. Hence this reduces the development time and RD cost / feature rates go down as well. Hence we provide a cost performance solution.
7.      How superior are your products compared with competition?
MediaTek’s strength is in always providing a complete solution which is value for money. Our product portfolio caters to the demands of the entire market, starting from low cost chipset to 3G and smart phones. We pride ourselves on being a complete solutions provider and provide support to our customer’s right throughout the implementation process.