Finmeccanica questions; The question then is where does the TETRA and DMR radio side of the business fit into the proposed new structure?

The board of Italian defence and communications giant Finmeccanica is currently in the process of discussing how to rationalise its portfolio. An announcement is expected to be made at the Farnborough Airshow in the UK in July this year.

While nothing has been officially decided yet, it is believed the company intends to concentrate on four key areas: aeronautics; helicopters; space/satellites; and electronics/defence/security. That means the five energy companies and three transport companies (trains, metros, signalling) are likely to be sold. The move would put the company back to where it was five years ago in terms of structure.

The question then is where does the TETRA and DMR radio side of the business fit into the proposed new structure? It is understood that the four Selex companies: Selex Galileo; Selex Galileo Ltd; Selex Systems Integration; and Selex Elsag (the secure radio part of the group) will be reorganised into one ‘super Selex’ company.

These companies currently target seven sectors, but up to three may be dropped - possibly automation, ICT and civil. However, TETRA is a mixed territory product at the moment. One Selex staffer said that the PMR part of the group does cover homeland security, police and border control, but not really civil and not really military. And where does that leave the power and utilities markets and other verticals under the new arrangements?

Finmeccanica has around 15% of the TETRA market at the moment, but is that enough to make it want to hold on to the division? As yet, no in the company knows and most staff will have to wait until July to find out. The staffer said: ‘A lot of jobs are at risk.’

Source: www.wireless-mag.com