PUNJAB Communications Limited (Puncom), a Punjab state government undertaking and a leading manufacturer and supplier of telecommunication and IT equipment and solutions in India, is now aiming to manufacture electronics and communication equipments for the defence sector. With a telecom equipment order from Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited of more than Rs 200 crore this year, Puncom is now working to indigenously manufacture tailor-made equipment to meet the latest defence specifications. Puncom managing director Anurag Verma told ET the company was exploring catering to the growing demands of the defence sector. “We are in touch with international equipment manufacturers and the defence establishment. An MoU on technical know-how will be the first step for the company to address the industry requirement,” he said. Puncom had, few years ago, manufactured devices for finding avalanche victims in collaboration with Electronics & Radar Development Establishment (LRDE). The company’s decision to once again foray into defence manufacturing comes at a time when the ministry of defence has been encouraging the offset policy. The policy mentions inclusion of an offset clause amounting to a minimum of 30% of the indicative costing in the request for proposal where the indicative cost of the contract is Rs 300 crore or more. According to Deepinder Singh Dhillon, head, marketing- Puncom, the company was keen on addressing the communication products such as static communication network (to link various army commands to-gether), mobile communication network (to establish communication till the battle line) and various electronic systems like warfare simulators, night vision gadgets etc. The company is also looking to consolidate its positions in optical fibre communication market comprising synchronous digital hierarchy and dense wave division multiplexing equipment segments. Puncom is also developing core broadband equipment for BSNL and other private service providers. In 2006-07, Puncom had a turnover of Rs 40 crore and this year, it is targeting to touch Rs 80 crore. The company, which has strategic tie-up with China based telecom products major Huawie and Bangalore-based optical telecom transmission equipment maker Ordyn Technologies, has three assembly lines of 10,000 components manufacturing per hour. Puncom diverse product range covers voice/data multiplexers, radios, optical/transmission, VSAT, switching equipment, PLCC, power plants, networking, broadband equipment and services. It caters to the growing telecommunications, networking and broadband needs of major organisations and service providers in the country.