The Chennai-based Gemini Communication Limited (GCL), a network integration and telecom company, has made a foray into energy and utilities solution services by taking up two projects — a one megawatt solar-based grid-connected power project and solar energy systems integrators for telecom operators.
In an interaction with this correspondent, Pradhyumna T. Venkat, Chief Executive Officer, Energy and Utilities Business, said Gemini was setting up the solar-based grid connected power project at Sattur in Virudhunagar in Tamil Nadu with an investment of Rs. 16 crore. It would be commissioned and get connected to the grid by November end.
The company had also entered into an agreement with a Bihar-based telecom operator for providing solar-based energy systems integrators for its 220 sites. It was also planning to enter into energy distribution and infrastructure management areas. GCL was in the process of making indigenous meters for water, power and piped gas in collaboration with a German-based company. It had so far installed 6,000 meters for both water and piped gas on a pilot project basis. The company had recently got a licence for providing broadband wireless telecom service in Africa – Malawi, Mozambique and Zimbabwe. GCL had so far invested close to $ 4-5 million in this project, said Mr.Venkat.
On the PointRed Telecom, a wholly-owned subsidiary of GCL and manufacturer of Wimax equipment, he said PointRed, which at present had two production units in Taipei, would set up a third facility in India.
The company had identified three locations mainly in Himachal Pradesh, Bangalore or Chennai for the plant. It would mainly focus on designing, manufacturing and supplying pre-WiMax, mobile WiMax, LTE (Long term evolution) and 4G (fourth generation) products to telecom operators worldwide. PointRed Telecom's revenue was Rs. 300 crore and it was the biggest contributor to the total revenue of Rs. 550 crore for 2010-11.
The company got a major order of Rs. 385 crore from BSNL for WiMax. The implementation of phase I at an outlay of Rs. 65 crore was completed by March 2011, he said.
