Alcatel is making a major move to become a worldwide leader in new-generation networks, which will handle the explosive growth of data with the appropriate quality of service, |
As far as operating income goes, we hope to report a positive result this year, but the market is not helping us. It's a challenge, |
Expanding operating profitability in the future will continue to remain a priority focus, |
Five years ago, we went a very long way to get this done and discussion broke in the last minutes. |
In the last few days, I have had discussions with the French public authorities. They told me: 'It's your business and that of your administrative board'. I did not feel any reticence. Quite the contrary. |
In the midst of a severe telecom industry re-set that is leaving no participant unscathed, Alcatel has thus far been able to maintain revenue growth and deliver positive income from operations, |
In uncertain markets, Alcatel's success will hinge on operating flexibility... considerable streamlining is underway at Alcatel to improve flexibility and realign its internal cost structure to the current business slowdown, |
Now seems to be the optimal time because this combination gives both companies a time-to-market advantage in a market that is changing quickly. |
The [telecommunications] carriers are going to use every trick, every gimmick, to delay investment, |
The fit between the people was perhaps not as good as one would have hoped. |
This combination is about a strategic fit between two experienced and well-respected global communications leaders who together would become the global leader in convergence. |
We anticipate that the carrier market will continue to grow in the mid single digit range for the full year 2006. |
We are very competitive, actually; we did much better than others, |
We continue to benefit from our leading position in the triple play services that are transforming carrier networks across the world. |
We do acquire when we need to complement whatever we've got ... but we aren't one of these companies that is, to a large extent, acquiring technology from outside parties, ... If there are opportunities, we may pursue them, but it's not a priority goal within Alcatel these days. |