A complete lockdown – offshore engineering in action
Hanab Telecom Infra has worked with engineers in India since the early 2000s. In 2007, a permanent supplier was chosen, and in 2019 we celebrated 12.5 years of a strategic partnership with Cyient. Shortly after, the COVID-19 pandemic created an unexpected challenge: a full lockdown in India.
A successful offshore operation
Around 300 Indian colleagues support Hanab Telecom Infra and its sister companies via Cyient, handling network administration, data transfer, system migrations, and more. According to Director Frans van Surksum and Manager Operations India Nico Melkert, the operation’s success comes from a mix of skills, scalability, and mutual benefits.
“Indian engineers are highly skilled. There are advantages for us in terms of scalability and cost, and for them, working with a European company opened great opportunities. Many colleagues now work in the UK or here in the Netherlands. We can’t do without them, and they don’t want to leave,” says Frans.
Hyderabad as a second home
Employees from Hanab Telecom Infra and end customers visited India regularly. Initially, the heat, traffic, and intensity of Hyderabad were overwhelming, but over time, the city became a second home. Cooperation was strong, and Indian colleagues proved professional, reliable, and a pleasure to work with.
A total lockdown in six hours
On 24 March 2020, the lockdown hit fast. Frans explains:
“The Indian government announced a total lockdown with home quarantine, effective within six hours. Morning shifts of 140 people dropped to 23. Vans couldn’t reach customers, and we couldn’t deliver.”
Regaining strength within a week
Cyient adapted quickly. Workplaces moved to homes, and 180 colleagues were working remotely within a week. Many had returned to villages up to 800 km away, but critical lines were maintained, and colleagues even worked weekends. Fun initiatives, like children’s colouring competitions and a personal video from CEO Wido van de Mast, helped morale.
“The operation quickly regained its strength and became a benchmark for other Cyient customers, who wanted to follow ‘The Dutch way’,” Frans concludes.