DragonWave Inc., a global supplier of packet microwave radio systems for mobile and access networks, and Himachal Futuristic Communications Ltd. (HFCL), one of India's leading telecommunication equipment manufacturers and turnkey service providers, are undertaking a joint venture to provide leading packet microwave solutions to the Indian market. DragonWave will own 50.1 percent of the equity in the joint venture, with the balance being owned by HFCL.

The joint venture, based in Delhi, will utilize HFCL's local market knowledge and expertise to sell and market DragonWave products in India. The company will also provide the joint venture with local manufacturing of DragonWave products from its state-of-the-art telecommunication equipment manufacturing facility at Solan, Himachal Pradesh.

With the recent completion of India's 3G and BWA radio-access spectrum auctions, service providers are preparing to rollout 3G and 4G IP-based networks in order to support the bandwidth and service requirements of the new HSPA, LTE and WiMAX base stations that will use this spectrum.

“We have had substantial success in the Indian telecom market, and partnering with DragonWave will help us build on that position at this pivotal moment of the introduction of 3G and 4G services in India,” said Mahendra Nahata, Managing Director of HFCL. "DragonWave offers a complete range of native-IP, globally proven products that are unmatched in their performance, scalability and reliability, and these are the qualities our customers will require as they build high-capacity infrastructure to roll out innovative, data-centric services."

Peter Allen, President and CEO of DragonWave, added, “We share a vision with HFCL that this is the moment to enter the strategically important Indian market. HFCL has all of the attributes we are looking for in our partner - robust local presence, long-standing relationships across the country's customer base, a strong contract manufacturing capability that will shorten the supply chain to Indian customers and proven sales, marketing and support organizations.”