PROSE Technologies launched ‘PROTREEM’ antenna at IMC 2024. In an exclusive interaction with CXO News and APAC News Network, Arshad Fakhri, President, PROSE Technologies (India Region), discusses the company’s growth, dominance in the wireless market, and highlights their commitment to sustainable telecom solutions.
What is the story behind the genesis of PROSE Technologies and its operations in India?
We have been in India since 2007. The company was originally called Rosenberger, a German company. Rosenberger primarily focuses on telecom, automotive, and medical equipment sectors. Rosenberger operates both in the wireline and wireless segments, with the wireless business growing rapidly in the Asia-Pacific region. This growth led the management to segregate the wireless business from the wireline, giving it a new brand identity, and that was how PROSE Technologies was born. It was officially launched in February-March 2022, and the company is jointly owned by the German Rosenberger family and the US Liu family.
How has PROSE Technologies expanded its presence in India, and what are the key operations here?
In India, we started operations in 2007 and we have factories in Manesar, Goa, and Pune. PROSE employs about 1,000 people across these facilities. We also have sales offices in Delhi and Mumbai, along with an R&D part in Bangalore. Our primary customers include major telecom operators such as Airtel, Vodafone, and Reliance. We also supply products to OEMs like Ericsson, Nokia, and Samsung. Airports and metros also buy some of our products but not directly, rather through whoever owns them.
How significant is the wireless market for PROSE in India compared to other geographies?
India is a major market for us. The wireless business here has grown significantly, particularly in the Asia-Pacific region. Since we are the largest supplier of antenna and coverage solution products to Indian operators, we are the market leader, with around 40-50% market share. While there are three to five other players, we remain strong in the region. Antennas are our primary product, contributing 60-70% of our total revenue.
What are the benefits offered by your new ‘PROTREEM’ Passive Antenna Family launched at IMC 2024?
The ‘PROTREEM’ Passive Antenna Family offers high-efficiency beam-shaping antennas aimed at improving wireless communication services. This product enhances coverage efficiency by around 20-25% and reduces energy consumption by 25%, which is a huge relief for operators’ energy budgets. It also significantly lowers the need for additional tower installations, reducing land dependency. Additionally, the antenna lowers power consumption, aligning with our commitment to reducing carbon footprints. It uses recycled plastic and has reduced soldering joints by 75%, making it environmentally friendly.
How does PROSE differentiate itself from competitors in this specific antenna segment?
Only two companies offer this technology globally, and PROSE is one of them. We are currently the only company providing this product in India. While we haven’t started manufacturing the ‘PROTREEM’ antennas in India yet, three operators in Europe have already adopted them. The other company is quite dominant but when a significant player steps back or faces issues globally, it creates opportunities for others. We have swiftly moved into this space as we were already developing in that direction.
Bhaswati Guha Majumder, APAC News Network
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