Alcatel Alsthom SA says turnover for the first nine months rose 7% to the equivalent of $18,114m, an increase that reflects the acquisitions of Telettra SpA, Canada Wire Ltd and Rockwell International Inc’s Network Transmission Systems’ US activities, bought in July and pushing Alcatel into second place behind AT&T Co in the data transmission equipment market (it is already number one overall in telephone equipment): on a comparable basis, revenues would have increased 5%, the company estimates; Alcatel NV contributed $12,370m, of which network systems accounted for 40%, radio communications and defence 11%, business communications 14% and cables 27%; orders for the first nine months were $19,526m; the French firm has also upped its stake in Generale des Eaux to 5.4%.
