Syscom Opens Asia's Largest SIM Card Factory

SIM card manufacturer, Syscom has announced plans for a significant investment over the next two years in India. The announcement came on the heels of the inauguration of Asia's largest smart card manufacturing facility located in Noida SEZ to support the growing demand for mobile handsets and network infrastructure especially in India and the Asia Pacific region.

Set up in 1996, Syscom enjoys a market share of 40 to 45% in India.

Present on the occasion, Patrick Samier, CEO of Sagem-Orga (parent company of Syscom) said "With the Indian telecom industry passing through transformational times, and the mobile telecommunication subscriber base growing at the rate of 65 to 70% per annum, it is indeed an exciting time to be in India. With the addition of new telecom players after the recent release of new telecom licences, the industry is all set for faster expansion, thereby providing further growth opportunities for us in India".

The smart card manufacturing facility spread over 8,000 sqm of land area in the progressive NSEZ, Noida, (Uttar Pradesh) is the largest and first of its kind in Asia Additionally, the new facility will enhance the overall production capacity of Syscom the market leader in SIM cards to 200 million cards per annum. Apart from catering to the needs of Indian customers the facility will also serve to global customers of the Sagem Orga Group covering South-east Asia, the Middle East and Africa.

"Syscom plans to further consolidate its position, and intends to invest to retain market leadership in India, and what better way of demonstrating our commitment than ensuring that the rapidly growing demands of the local market can be met from an in-country production site", said Sanjeev Shriya, Managing Director, Syscom Corporation Limited, and VP Asia-Pacific of Sagem-Orga. "The SIM card market is dynamic and besides the volumes, SIM card capacity and capabilities are also increasing. The manufacturing plant in India will produce full range of SIM cards including up to 256 KB capacity. In 2008 alone, we expect the Indian market to require approximately 250 million SIM cards and by 2010 the demand is expected to touch 500 million", he added.

Syscom Corp is a subsidiary of Sagem Orga.

Posted to the site on 28th January 2008