The Hindu Business Line : SafeNet may do chip design here

THE US-based provider of private and public network security solutions SafeNet plans to expand operations in India, as part of which it would increase its software development strength and also consider bringing chip design work to the country.

"We will expand our sales and marketing force in India and as well as the development and support team. We plan to increase our headcount in India to up to 160 from the existing 125," Mr Anthony A. Caputo, Chairman and CEO of SafeNet said here.

Mr Caputo said the company would increase its software development workforce in India to about 100 professionals from the existing 75 people and also expand its facility in Delhi.

"We will invest in hardware equipment, testing equipment and overall infrastructure," he said but declined to divulge the specific investments details.

The company has development centres in Maryland, North Carolina and California. In Europe, it has chip design capabilities in Netherlands centre and software development operations in Finland. In Asia, the company has facilities in Beijing and in India.

SafeNet with revenues of $200 million employs 750 professionals globally.

"We may do chip design work in India in future. We see the required skill sets for such work, but our primary focus for India will continue to be software development," he said.