Siemens Network Systems Division is out to increase its share of the French telecommunications market. It recently bought a 75% stake in Arche Communications SA, a French company based in Les Ulis, specialised in network and information systems integration. With around 70 employees and annual sales of some $20m, Arche is one of France’s leading corporate network systems solutions providers, Siemens says. According to the terms of the deal, Arche will integrate and market corporate networking products and systems with Siemens and in close co-operation with Siemens’ Siemens Nixdorf Informationssysteme AG computer arm. In addition, Arche will keep its headquarters and have a voice on the management board. Wilhelm Hbers, Siemens director, estimates the local network market in France alone is worth around $1,635m and forecasts annual growth of around 12%. The partnership with Arche, Hbers reckons, will enable Siemens to grab a sizeable chunk of that market.
