Brightstar expands Kyocera Wireless distribution

Supply chain management provider and wireless products distributor Brightstar has expanded its Kyocera Wireless distribution to Australia.

Melbourne-based subsidiary Brightstar Logistics would distribute Kyocera Wireless products direct to Australian carriers as a result of the deal, Brightstar said in a statement.

Bernard Katz, business development director for Brightstar in the Asia-Pacific, said Brightstar had helped several global carriers cut supply chain costs with various products.

"We look forward to growing our partnership with Kyocera by taking our key learnings from other wireless markets and extending those successes into Australia with local carriers," Katz said.

Paul Hanton, region manager at Kyocera Wireless, said Brightstar had been chosen for its line efficiency, time to market and inventory management. Also, it tailored its offering to local needs, he said.

"With the conviction [Brightstar] has shown in setting up [its] operation and being headed by a fantastic team, we are convinced they will help us continue our growth in this very important market," Hanton said.

Brightstar said the aim was to provide a "total solution" to telecommunications operators across the supply chain. Forecasting, customisation, kitting, distribution and reverse logistics were all considered, it said.

"Brightstar's fully integrated logistics and customisation facility enables Brightstar to work closely with Kyocera and the carriers to import product and customise and kit to local carriers' specifications," the company said.

It would also bring "innovative, cutting edge" CDMA product to Australia, the distributor said.

Seven-year-old Brightstar has 29 facilities in 21 nations, including Colombia, Argentina, the US, Australia, Jamaica and Brazil. It is headquartered in the US and boasts annual revenue of US$1.7 billion.