MRO-Tek looks at WiFi solutions for home, SOHO segments

MRO-Tek, a data communications and networking player, will be looking to increase its reseller and channel base in the smaller cities. According to the company, the move is meant to increase the penetration of its networking products in home and SOHO segments.

"We want to increase our distribution strength in the smaller cities and move to places where we yet do not have a direct presence. We are in the process of looking at distributors and will be selecting at least three in the near future," says S Ashok, Product Manager,
MRO-TEK.

The company had recently signed an exclusive agreement with the Taiwan Internet access solutions provider, ZyXEL, for distribution of some of their wireless products for the home and SOHO segments. The products include the ZyAIR B-120 wireless LAN PC card, the ZyAIR B-220 wireless LAN USB stick and ZyAIR B-1020 wireless LAN access point.

"The distributors we are looking for will deal with these WiFi products for the home space as well. We will face the competition which comprises of a few early players by working off the performance capabilities of ZyXEL products, increasing our distribution base and tying up with various DSL service providers," states
Ashok.

Speaking on the WiFi market in the country, he notes that home and SOHO segments would be the last to be seriously targeted by vendors, the first being corporates. He also opines that service providers could be the key in opening up the reticent home segment and increasing penetration in the same. 

"The licensing policy of the government is one of the major bottlenecks facing WiFi usage in the country. Though import duties have been changed for the better, some of the licensing details remain vague which could create problems," Ashok says, adding that licenses are unlikely to be available for other standards within the 2.4 GHz spectrum for another two years. 

The company also plans to introduce ZyXEL´s hotspot solutions in the country within three months. The company also hopes to tie up with DSL service providers around the same time period pointing out that their products were already being tested by many of them.

SATHYA MITHRA ASHOK

BANGALORE