Anku Jain, MD, MediaTek India

India’s devices and electronics ecosystem has been seeing rapid developments over the past few years. The sector is expected to get a further jolt once 5G kicks in. The government, on its part, has been coming out with measures and policies to provide a boost to the local manufacturing ecosystem in the electronics and telecom equipment space. This is expected to present a host of opportunities for multiple players. In an exclusive interview with tele.net, Anku Jain, MD, MediaTek India, discusses the company’s key offerings and focus areas in the country, its plans to tap the 5G market, and upcoming opportunities…

What are the key trends dominating the Indian semiconductor ecosystem? 

As a country with a huge population, the Indian semiconductor ecosystem is set to boom. Post the pandemic, a huge number of people are dependent on smartphones and other smart devices when it comes to their education, work or communication. This tremendous demand offers huge scope for expansion, innovation and manufacturing of semiconductors. The pandemic gr­e­atly disrupted the established supply chains, creating opportunities for up-and-coming ecosystems such as the ones in our country. While there has been a slowdown in fab ma­nufacturing, the government’s timely and proactive initiatives such as Atmanir­bhar Bharat and the economic stimulus package, along with the National Policy on Electronics 2019, have empowered the semiconductor industry. Key trends that are now dominating the Indian semiconductor ecosystem include innovations such as artificial intelligence, machine learning and ed­ge computing, which are redefining the way we do things even as we wait for the greatest disruptor of all – 5G.

How is the PLI scheme expected to impact the sector? Are you currently exploring any opportunities under the scheme?

We expect that the government’s production-linked incentive (PLI) scheme will help India become independent in terms of electronics manufacturing and design, buoyed by the evolution in the semiconductor in­d­ustry. The scheme could also help us reduce de­pen­dence on international supply chains, thus ensuring that we remain functional even when such chains are disrupted on a global scale. The government is also keen on creating a broad base for sourcing electr­onic components and raw ma­terials, thus em­po­wering the entire sector in a ho­lis­tic ma­­nner while also en­abling do­m­e­stic desi­gn and manufacturing. We are happy to play our p­art in enabling the Atma­nir­bhar Bha­rat vi­sion of the government in every way possible.

What are MediaTek’s key focus areas in the In­dian telecom domain? How has been the journey so far?

This year, MediaTek is celebrating 25 years of incorporation, and it has been an incredible journey so far. In the Indian telecom domain, our key focus is on expanding our R&D capabilities across Noida and Benga­luru, hiring significantly to maintain and enhance our market position, and creating sustainable and satisfactory associations with original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) across the smart devices sector. We also have plans to expand into newer categories under smart devices and are keen on changing the way people interact with their devices and the world around them, thus enhancing and enriching their lives.

What are your views on the evolving 5G landscape? What is MediaTek’s 5G road map for the Indian market?

MediaTek has been a frontrunner in the 5G space since the inception of the technology, and now, with 5G gaining mo­men­tum in India, the market is evolving rapidly and OEMs are regularly rolling out 5G-enabled smartphones and devices. We believe that the Indian ecosystem is primed for 5G and will benefit greatly from the technology. The MediaTek Dimensity 5G se­ries is at the forefront of this evolution and is setting new benchmarks for 5G smartph­o­nes, thanks to the powerful integrated 5G technology that redefines performance, con­nectivity, photography, strea­m­ing, gaming and power effici­ency in these de­vices. The 5G series of chipsets, including the flagship MediaTek Dimensity 1200, Di­mensity 1000, Dimen­sity 900, and the recently re­lea­sed Dimen­sity 9000, Dimen­sity 920 and Dimensity 810, have set new benchmarks for 5G smartphones.

Going forward, what will be your growth plan for the near term?

The year 2021 has been a very fruitful year for Media­Tek, in terms of expansion and buil­ding on our research capabilities. In addition, we have also entered into significant ass­ociations with OEMs, thus enhancing the scope and reach of our chips. In the near term, we aim to continue changing the way people interact with their devices and the world around them. We are also waiting for 5G to arrive, for it will open up entirely new platforms of innovation and create a historic opportunity to make the co­nnected world smarter, safer and more equitable. We aim to continue growing st­eadily and su­s­tainably in the near term, wi­th a focus on new-age technology and op­ti­mal customer satisfaction. MediaTek al­ways takes custo­mer feedback into ac­count and we are now focusing on interactive and immersive customer engagement plans to fuel demand for our chips in the Indian and global eco­systems.