BEL, Cisco enter into strategic partnership to scale & secure India’s digital infrastructure

At Aero India 2023, the biennial air show and aviation exhibition held at Yelahanka Air Force Station, Bengaluru, Navratna Defence PSU Bharat Electronics Ltd (BEL) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Cisco for long- term strategic co-operation in the areas of networking, collaboration and security, among other associated services.

The partnership aims at leveraging the strengths and capabilities of BEL and Cisco to capitalise on opportunities emerging in the domains of network and security. BEL, by virtue of this MoU, is looking at elevating its relationship with Cisco — to that of a “Strategic Partner”.

Ms Daisy Chittilapilly, President, Cisco India & SAARC, said: “India is on the fast-track to becoming a leading digital economy, but an ecosystem approach is key to mobilise progress at scale and speed. Our partnership with BEL is a significant step in our endeavour to accelerate innovation, infrastructure modernisation, and capability building across critical industry segments. We are confident that Cisco and BEL’s technology leadership and expertise combined will enable us to forge new possibilities and outcomes for our customers in India.”

Mr Bhanu Prakash Srivastava, Chairman & Managing Director, BEL, said: “This strategic partnership will provide BEL access to Cisco technology, which includes enterprise networks, advanced wireless technology, security, data centre network, etc. It will also facilitate joint customisation and product lifecycle management for BEL’s various projects and enable the company to build state-of-the-art technology architecture for key industry verticals.” Additionally, Cisco will explore the establishment of a Cisco Network Training Academy at the BEL Academy for Excellence (Nalanda), Bengaluru.

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About BEL

Navratna PSU Bharat Electronics Limited (BEL) was established in 1954 under the Ministry of Defence, GoI, with a farsighted vision to make the country self-reliant in Defence electronics. Today, BEL is a multi-product, multi-technology, multi-Unit conglomerate which designs, manufactures and supplies state-of-the-art products and systems in a wide variety of fields including Radars, Missile Systems, Military Communications, Naval Systems, Electronic Warfare & Avionics, C4I Systems, Electro Optics, Tank Electronics & Gun/Weapon System Upgrades, and Electronic Fuzes in the Defence segment.

BEL's non-Defence business segment includes areas such as Electronic Voting Machines, Homeland Security & Smart Cities, Satellite Integration & Space Electronics, Railways, Artificial Intelligence, Cyber Security, Software as a Service, Energy Storage Products, besides Composite Shelters & Masts. BEL is fast expanding its global presence, putting its best foot forward to give a thrust to exports worldwide. All-out efforts are being made to tap new markets across the globe, including the Indian Ocean Region and friendly foreign countries.

Be it the efforts that the Company has been putting in to engage in collaborative R&D in addition to augmenting its own R&D set up — its recent attempts to outsource work to Indian private industries and MSMEs, or the path breaking decision to go in for Public- Private partnerships to execute turnkey projects, BEL is leaving no stone unturned to ensure that it is in sync with the Government's larger goal of indigenisation and self-reliance.

Photo caption: Mr Vinay Kumar Katyal, Director (Bangalore Complex), BEL, and Ms Daisy Chittilapilly, President, Cisco India & SAARC, display the MoU signed between BEL and Cisco in the presence of senior officials of both the companies, at Aero India.