Chinese smart device operating system and platform technology provider Thunder Software Technology Co., which has an IT development centre in Hyderabad, plans to scale up operations in India.
On Friday, chairman and CEO Hongfei Zhao said the company intended to invest $500 million over the next five years in India towards research and development work for global customers as well as on-board more Indian clients.
It counts Intel, Qualcomm, Microsoft, Amazon, Google and Facebook among its customers. “We need to build a stronger team in Hyderabad… work on more technology,” he said. Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Internet of Things are focus areas on which the firm is keen to invest more.
Thundersoft India vice-president Sudharani Pillai said the Hyderabad development centre worked on smart systems for mobile phones, IoT products, on 5G technology and on smart vehicles. The facility here is the only such for Thundersoft in the country and has completed one year.
Noting that the headcount in India stood at 140, the senior executives said that in three years, it would increase to 1,000. The firm would like to expand operations in Hyderabad and open development centres in about six months in Bengaluru and Pune.
“It is just the beginning,” Mr. Zhao said about the India operations of Thundersoft. Hyderabad has greater potential to take up more work. The development centre can cater to more companies and provide global solutions, he said.
Ms. Pillai said the increase in the headcount to 1,000 would be achieved by organic growth. “Acquisitions in terms of technology, technical people will come later on… it is a different stream,” she said. Thundersoft has 20 research and development centres globally, including the one here.
Telangana IT and Industries Minister K.T.Rama Rao, addressing the first anniversary celebrations of the development centre, said the growth story of Thundersoft could open doors more Chinese companies in Hyderabad.
