LG bets on W series for market share

South Korean major aims to capitalise on 5G technology for growth in handsets

June 26, 2019 10:17 pm | Updated 10:41 pm IST - NEW DELHI

The company aims to sell a million devices from the W series this year.

The company aims to sell a million devices from the W series this year.

LG, which has launched a new series of smartphones in India after a brief hiatus, is eyeing a double-digit share of the market in the next two years, as part of plans to build a base to capitalise on the opportunities that 5G technology will bring in.

The company, which launched three devices under its India-first W series on Wednesday, will be adding more devices to its portfolio, Advait Vaidya, business head-mobiles, LG India told The Hindu , adding the firm aims to sell a million devices from the W series this year.

“… LG was non-existent in the smartphone business thus far and there is no denying that.… With the W series, it is the first time the country [India] was given an option to create their own portfolio. So, the W series was conceptualised, created, designed and developed keeping the Indian consumer and the competitive space in mind, which is why it is a significant step for us,” Mr. Vaidya said. Asked about LG’s vision for the Indian market, he added the LG wants to be a significant player once 5G rolls out and the W series will help the company build a base for the same.

“In the telecom and technology space, a lot is going on currently. Globally, 5G is going live. People are talking about how ecosystems will come into play and gadgets will talk to each other. For 5G, LG has already launched products in the U.S., Korea and a few other countries,” he said.

‘5G may come in H2’

Noting that in India, 5G may come probably in the second half of 2020, Mr. Vaidya said LG wants to be a very important and one of the key players in the 5G space.

“…we will have a lot of learning of the 5G market by the time it will go live in India. And every time we have seen that that when there is technology change, there is a room for fresh players to enter into the market and gain share. So, it is extremely important for us to gain scale and share starting now and early next year start taking 5G positioning in India. So that when all these pieces come together, we are a important and a significant player.”

On the devices road map, he said that the company would add two more smartphone models under W series, taking the total to five. Besides, the company will look at bringing India-relevant products from the global portfolio as well.

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