Cisco buys NDS for $5 b; to integrate India staff

With the acquisition of NDS for $5 billion, Cisco will integrate the Indian arm into itself.

The UK-based NDS Group, a provider of video software and content security solutions, has 1,600 engineers in its R&D centre in India. Also, NDS in India counts Tata Sky, Hathway and Bharti as its clients.

Talking to

Business Line , Mr Joydeep Bose, Managing Director, Corporate Development, Cisco APJC, said, “Employees of NDS India will be integrated into Cisco over a period of time and the talent pool will add to our end-to-end service capabilities in the network space.”

Cisco has been looking to add to its service revenues as its bread and butter business is increasingly coming under pressure from newer entrants such as Huawei and ZTE, according to industry watchers.

NDS provides solutions in the digital pay television industry and counts BSkyB, Canal Plus, China Central Television, DIRECTV, Kabel Deutschland, Sky Deutschland, Sky Italia and others as its global customers.

With consumer preferences for digital content on tablets and smartphones on the rise, Cisco would like to be in the forefront of delivering content anywhere and on any device, added Mr Bose.

NDS specialises in the development of interactive systems for secure delivery of entertainment and information to digital TVs, digital set-top boxes, PCs and mobile devices.

venkatesh.ganesh@

thehindu.co.in