Global corporation Brightstar has acquired a majority interest in Beetel Teletech Ltd, part of the Bharti group.
The aim is to bring latest mobile technologies and services to the Indian market, the companies said.
Beetel is a maker of land phones and other telecom equipment, and offers communication services.
“As the largest specialized wireless distributor in the world and a leader in innovation and diversified services for the wireless industry, Brightstar will bring the latest mobile devices and accessories from top manufacturers for distribution through Beetel’s well-established distribution platform throughout India,” the companies said.
“The Indian mobile market is entering the next phase of growth, which will be driven by data services on 3G and 4G technologies. The smartphone market in the country recorded triple-digit growth in 2013 and offers a huge opportunity going forward” said Rakesh Bharti Mittal, Vice Chairman, Bharti Enterprises. “The new mobile businesses and related technologies that Brightstar is bringing to Beetel will help drive significant growth by leveraging our deep distribution strength.”
Founded in 1985, Beetel is part of the Bharti Group and is a market leader in the manufacturing of high quality fixed line telephones for Airtel, BSNL / MTNL as well as the retail market and exports to more than 30 countries across five continents. The company also distributes and markets a wide range of leading technology brands such as Samsung, Panasonic, Polycom, Avaya, AMX, Extron, RADWIN, Huawei and SanDisk. Beetel has a strong B2B distribution reach in India with more than 500 distributors and partners, 10,000 retailers and 28 warehouses spanning across the country.
“India represents a tremendous growth opportunity for both devices and attached services as consumers continue to upgrade from feature to smartphones in record numbers,” said Marcelo Claure, founder and CEO of Brightstar Corp. “Beetel is a recognized leader in technology distribution in India, and we look forward to enhancing the company’s strong position to bring the latest mobile technologies and services to the marketplace.”
Beetel will retain its name and all the existing employees and continue operating from its headquarters in Gurgaon, India.