TCL to launch made-in-India Alcatel smartphones

The brand’s lineup will include a smartphone with a stylus, bringing high-end features to an affordable price segment.

TCL Communication is set to reintroduce Alcatel-branded smartphones in India, targeting the mass market. The company will manufacture these smartphones in India.

Alcatel is a French tech brand operated by China's TCL under a brand trademark licence from Nokia. Nokia acquired Alcatel-Lucent in 2016 and now owns Alcatel, which started selling cordless mobile phones in India in 1996.

The Alcatel brand’s lineup will include a smartphone with a stylus, bringing high-end features to an affordable price segment.

Notably, Acer is also making a comeback to the Indian market through a licensing and manufacturing partnership with Indkal Tech, a homegrown company.

Alcatel plans to introduce a range of premium smartphones featuring patented innovations (pending or granted), cutting-edge hardware, and stylish designs tailored to India’s expanding consumer base. Additionally, it will establish a robust nationwide service network to ensure seamless customer support.

“Our vision for India is to democratise innovation by making premium features accessible to a broader audience. Alcatel devices blend style and performance, catering to tech enthusiasts, urban aspirants, fashion-conscious users, and digital nomads,” said Atul Vivek, chief business officer.

“From day one, we have embraced the ‘Made in India’ initiative, focusing on local manufacturing to enhance supply chain efficiency, ensure superior quality, and contribute to India’s growing tech ecosystem. This strategic move solidifies our commitment to the Indian market,” said Ansh Rathi, chief operating officer.

TCL notably entered into a licensing agreement to launch BlackBerry smartphones. As part of the arrangement, TCL Communications was responsible for manufacturing and distributing BlackBerry-branded phones nationwide. This partnership ended in 2020.