Government unlikely to push Chinese phone companies out of sub-Rs 12,000 segment: Madhav Sheth, CEO, Realme India

Realme, India’s second ranked smartphone brand, doesn’t expect the Indian government to take any steps that would push Chinese brands out of the under-Rs12,000 segment, its India CEO Madhav Sheth said. Speaking to ET’s Subhrojit Mallick, Sheth said India is focusing on three things: compliances, the ecosystem to be brought in India, and the exports, and the company, headquartered in China, is striving to adhere to all three. He said the smartphone industry needs to engage in ethical lobbying to make the government understand the way it functions and avoid conflict situations. He blamed the tepid demand environment on the lack of innovation by its rivals. Edited excerpts: