NAIROBI, Oct 11, 2007 (AFP) - Kenya has tapped a French-US telecoms giant to build an undersea fibre-optic cable linking east Africa to the rest of the world in a bid to slash the cost of international calls and Internet access, an official said Thursday.

Information Ministry Permanent Secretary Bitange Ndemo said the contract with Paris-based Alcatel-Lucent will be signed within 14 days and work is expected to start immediately.

PARIS, Sept 13, 2007 (AFP) - French-US Telecommunication equipment maker Alcatel-Lucent issued its second profit-warning of the year Thursday, sparking a sharp fall in the group's share price despite management assurances the merger of the two groups would prove fruitful.

Alcatel-Lucent shares plunged 8.69 percent on the day to close at 6.62 euros. The share has now lost 40 percent of its value since the start of the year.

PARIS, Sept 13, 2007 (AFP) - Alcatel-Lucent warned Thursday that after talks with North American mobile operator clients about their spending plans, third quarter sales growth was expected to be weak and would 'negatively impact' profitability.

For the third quarter 2007, 'operating income (loss) is expected to be around break even,' the French-US telecommunications equipment maker said in an update on its business activities.

'The change in revenue mix is expected to negatively impact the profitability of the company, especially in the current quarter,' it said.

PARIS, July 31, 2007 (AFP) - Shares in French-US telecommunications equipment maker Alcatel-Lucent fell 8.24 percent Tuesday after the group reported an unexpected -- and steep -- second quarter net loss accompanied by a sales slump.

Alcatel-Lucent shares were trading at 8.80 euros around midday on an overall Paris market that was 1.36 percent stronger.

The company said it sustained a net loss of 336 million euros (460 million dollars) in the April-June period compared with a profit of 302 million euros in the same quarter last year.

PARIS, July 31, 2007 (AFP) - French-US telecommunications equipment maker Alcatel-Lucent on Tuesday reported a second quarter net loss, accompanied by a sales slump, but maintained its yearly projections.

The company said it sustained a net loss of 336 million euros (460 million dollars) in the April-June period compared with a profit of 302 million euros in the same quarter last year.

Second quarter sales fell 4.0 percent to 4.32 billion euros, consistent with market expectations.

PARIS, July 31, 2007 (AFP) - French-US telecommunications equipment maker Alcatel-Lucent on Tuesday reported a second quarter net loss, accompanied by a sales slump, but maintained its yearly projections.

The company said it sustained a net loss of 336 million euros (460 million dollars) in the April-June period compared with a profit of 302 million euros in the same quarter last year.

Second quarter sales fell 4.0 percent to 4.32 billion euros, consistent with market expectations.