Our Bureau
New Delhi
Noida-based IT giant HCLTech has announced the acquisition of Hewlett Packard Enterprise’s (HPE) telecom solutions business for $160 million (Rs 1,440 crore), aiming to supercharge its engineering and AI-driven offerings for global communication service providers (CSPs). The deal, revealed on December 17, 2025, includes $15 million in performance-based incentives tied to FY25 results and is structured as an asset carve-out, not a share purchase, with closure expected within six months.
This move bolsters HCLTech’s telecom vertical, which already contributes 12.7% to its topline, with Q2 FY26 revenue up 11.7% year-on-year. HPE’s Telco Solutions unit supports over one billion devices across 200 global deployments and builds on assets HCLTech integrated from HPE’s Communications Technology Group earlier in 2024. Nearly 1,500 specialists from 39 countries, including India, France, Japan, and Italy, will join HCLTech, enhancing expertise in 5G transformation, network cloudification, Network as a Service (NaaS), autonomous networking, and AI-native networks.
HCLTech Chief Growth Officer Anil Ganjoo emphasized the strategic fit: “Integrating this highly skilled HPE team and their market-proven IP strengthens our product-aligned model and accelerates our shift toward higher-value, IP-led services and non-linear growth.” The acquisition aligns with surging demand for AI-led telecom innovations amid 5G rollouts and digital shifts.
Industry observers view this as HCLTech’s aggressive play in a competitive landscape, following prior HPE deals. It positions the firm to serve 20 of the top 30 global CSPs more effectively, driving revenue diversification beyond traditional IT services. As telco spends on automation rise, HCLTech eyes accelerated market share gains.
