In October last year, Cisco had announced its plans to invest $1.1 bn in India. Moneycontrol.com reports that Cisco intends to invest $25 to 30mn over the next few months in broadband content and digital media companies. Did I hear someone say too much money chasing too few deals in India? Anyway, this is a part of $100mn which had been allocated towards VC investments in high-growth, early stage companies, of which $5mn has been invested in Indiagames and Bharti Telesoft. Other components of that investment plan:
- $50mn for a new R&D campus in Bangalore, to be completed by June 2007.
- $750mn in R&D activities, training and development in India over the next three years.
- $150mn million fund to provide leasing and other financial solutions to Cisco customers and partners. $50mn has already been deployed by Cisco Systems Capital.
- $5mn allocated towards contributing products and services for rural connectivity and the development of a BSNL lab in Chennai.
- Investment in a manufacturing pilot facility in Chennai.