Nokia is to expand its research and development center in Chengdu, China, hiring up to 150 more staff, to boost mobile network infrastructure product development, the company said on Tuesday.

Nokia said in January it would restructure part of its Networks division in its Finnish homeland to cut R&D costs, in favor of spending more in emerging markets where it expects higher demand for infrastructure from rapidly expanding mobile operators.

Nokia has been working to boost its infrastructure business in Asia, particularly in India and in China.

China, Nokia's biggest market by sales, is expected to issue licenses for third-generation networks this year, unleashing heavy spending by telecom operators.

"The expansion of Nokia Chengdu R&D Center will capitalize on the favorable competence base in China, and develop a better alignment with the Chinese mobile communications market, a key global growth driver," Nokia said in a statement.

A spokeswoman said the company plans to hire 100 to 150 more people at the center this year, but declined to give an overall staff number.