NuLink to set up software devp facility in Pune

Our Correspondent in Pune

Massachusetts-based NuLink Inc’s offshore unit Nu-Link (India) Pvt Ltd is setting up a Rs 10 crore-30,000 sqft facility at the Pune Software Park to house 200 software professionals.

The Pune facility will develop software for wireless platforms which are going to be deployed by Eastern Communications Co Ltd (Eastcom) in the Chinese market NuLink founder managing director Ashraf M Dahod said. The company has also signed on Samsung Electronics of Korea to incorporates its solution in Samsung’s wireless infrastructure offerings.

NuLink will develop software on Starent Networks Corporation’s platform. NuLink is designing the Element Management Systems for Starent’s platform. Dahod is also the founder and CEO of the US $65 million Starent Networks.

Starent Networks has developed an innovative intelligent mobile gateway solutions, Starent ST16, for mobile operators to enable them to offer new wireless services. The solution connects mobile operator’s radio network with IP core networks enabling new voice, data and multimedia services for wireless users.

Starent has attracted US $32 million venture fund backing. Matrix Partners and North Bridge Venture Partners jointly funded the company’s US $10 million first round. Starent also completed the second round of funding in August 2001 when US $22 million was pumped in by Matrix, North Bridge along with Highland Capital Partners. For Mr Dahod, NuLink is his fifth start-up.

Apart from the Chinese markets, the Pune facility will also carry out embedded software development for communication equipment for a European version of Starent’s platform. At the moment the focus is on the CDMA version. Mr Dahod expects a commercial roll-out of the product in mid-2002. “We will also explore possibilities of doing business with Indian companies once it develops the GSM version of the product,” he said.

Mr Dahod co-founded NetCore Systems, Inc, which was acquired by Tellabs for US $575 million. His Sigma Networks which pioneered multitechnology switches was acquired by Cabletron Systems in 1997 for US $75 million. Bay Networks picked up Applitek Corporation, another company founded by Mr Dahod, for of US $59 million.