New Delhi: ITI Ltd is in discussions with US-based Qualcomm for obtaining a licence to manufacture CDMA-based fixed wireless terminals, as well as for its chipsets. This would enable it to get into component level manufacturing, according to the Department of Telecom.

ITI''s move to approach Qualcomm is interesting in the light of the fact that Punjab-based HFCL had also taken a licence from Qualcomm for producing CDMA mobile handsets. Nine months after grant of licence, HFCL is yet to start manufacture.

If successful, ITI could become the first company to set up local manufacturing for CDMA devices.

The move is part of ITI''s strategy to foray into production of equipment based on newer technologies. The company is also discussing a possible partnership with CDoT-Alcatel Research Centre in Chennai for manufacturing WiMax consumer premise equipment and network gear on a transfer-of-technology basis.

ITI had earlier entered into a similar partnership with Alcatel for manufacturing GSM-based mobile equipment. It also has an agreement with Tekelec for next-generation switches, and ZTE for supply of CDMA equipment.

ITI has an agreement with Kyocera of Japan for field trial of wireless broadband equipment, iBurst, which enables broadband Internet on mobile devices in a wide area network.

The State-owned company has six manufacturing plants in Bangalore, Mankapur, Rae Bareli, Naini, Palakkad and Srinagar.

Most of the equipment manufactured by ITI is supplied to Bharat Sanchar Nigam Ltd and other Government agencies, including the defence services and railways.