Siemens aims to be No. 2 in Asia

The Siemens Information and Communication Mobile Group (IC Mobile) plans to step up its commitment to the Asian market even more vigorously, with a medium-term aim of becoming No. 2 in the Asian mobile communication market (excluding Japan and Korea).

To cope with rapidly growing demand in the Asian mobile market, Siemens will be investing about $60 million and increasing its annual production capacity in Shanghai, China from 10 to 14 million mobile devices.

In research and development, Siemens IC Mobile will be investing about $250 million to extend its three newly established Centers of Competence by mid-2003.

Siemens IC Mobile sees its current position in the market as confirmation that it is well on its way to achieving its goal of growing faster than the market and climbing to No. 2 position in the Asia-Pacific in the medium term.

In the mobile phone market, Siemens currently holds about 12 percent of the market in the Asia-Pacific and 13 percent in China, the biggest single market for mobile phones in the region.

In the mobile infrastructure market, Siemens has an estimated 11 percent share in the Asia-Pacific and 14 percent in China.

That is why in the second phase of its $1.5-billion investment program in the Asia-Pacific, Siemens IC Mobile will further raise production capacity in Shanghai, its production center for the entire region.

"The mobile communications market in Asia is booming with a growth rate of more than 30 percent. As No. 3 in mobile networks and terminals, Siemens is well-placed to help shape the rapid growth of the Asian market," said Lothar Pauly, board member of Siemens’ Information and Communication Mobile Group.