Unisphere set to tap need for network gear
Networking-equipment company Unisphere Solutions has established its Asia-Pacific headquarters in Hong Kong to tap better the growing demand for hardware by telecommunications and Internet firms.
The company, which is backed by German electronics giant Siemens, had invested US$2 million to $3 million to establish its SAR operations, which would employ 10 staff by the end of the year, Unisphere chief executive Martin Clague said.
Hong Kong was chosen as the headquarters because it had convenient airline connections, a skilled workforce and advanced transportation and communications networks, he said.
'The availability of skills is very good here and Siemens has a good base here,' Mr Clague said.
Unisphere has also set up offices in Singapore and Tokyo, and will open operations in Beijing, Seoul, and Australia by the end of the year.
Privately held Unisphere was created in March when Siemens acquired networking companies Castle Networks, Redstone Communications and Argon Networks for a total of $1.1 billion.
Unisphere sells networking equipment geared to handle voice, data and video traffic, pitting it against US-based giant Cisco Systems.
But unlike Cisco, Unisphere was 'only focused on carriers and service providers, not enterprises', Mr Clague said.
It will focus on selling to telecoms operators and Internet providers in the region.
A number of SAR carriers were testing Unisphere's equipment, but Mr Clague declined to name them.
In the mainland, 'we have two to three major commitments' for equipment deals, he said.
Unisphere would not reveal its sales projections for the region.
'Here in Asia, the market for telecommunications companies who are buying [networking] equipment . . . is very large. That is the reason why we're here,' Mr Clague said.
TECHNOLOGY
