GTE Corp looks for its US Sprint joint venture with United Telecommunications to move into profit in the last quarter of next year or in early 1989: pre-tax operating losses were $166m in the third quarter, down from $282m in the second quarter, and 80% of traffic now takes the fibre optic route; GTE Cellular with 10 franchises, will grow 30% this year, and should put on another 40% next, moving into profit.