FRANKFURT, August 1, 2008 (AFP) - The German industrial group Siemens announced on Friday another divestment in its telecoms activities, saying it would sell 80 percent of its SHC unit, which makes cordless phones, to Arques Industries.

The amount of the transaction was not provided, but the deal was to be finalised by October 1, a statement said.

MADRID, July 31, 2008 (AFP) - Spanish Telecommunication firm Telefonica said Thursday its second quarter net profit dropped 20.2 percent to 2.05 billion euros (3.2 billion) from the same period last year when its results were boosted by a large one-time gain.

PARIS, July 31, 2008 (AFP) - French aero-engineering group Safran reported a 27.5-percent slump in net first-half profits Thursday, blaming the weak dollar, and said it was selling its mobile phone interests to refocus its business.

LONDON, July 31, 2008 (AFP) - British telecoms operator BT Group said on Thursday that net profits sank 35 percent in the first quarter of its fiscal year amid fierce competition for broadband Internet services and higher restructuring costs.

BERLIN, July 29, 2008 (AFP) - German engineering giant Siemens said Tuesday it had spun off a controlling stake in its Enterprise Communications (SEN) unit to US investor The Gores Group.

SEN was to be integrated in a joint venture in which Siemens will invest 175 million euros (275 million dollars) and retain a 49 percent stake, it said in a statement.

PARIS, July 29, 2008 (AFP) - Alcatel-Lucent took dramatic action in response to a sixth heavy loss in its Telecommunication-equipment marriage on Tuesday with the twin departures of its two founders, Patricia Russo and Serge Tchuruk.

There had been rumours that one or other might leave the group, and that their respective styles were a factor in the company's difficulties.

PARIS, July 29, 2008 (AFP) - The Alcatel-Lucent Telecommunication equipment giant revealed a huge loss on Tuesday and the shock departures of its two founders, as Asian competition adds to the strains of rapid change in the sector.

PARIS, July 29, 2008 (AFP) - The two top managers behind the creation of French-US Telecommunication equipment giant Alcatel-Lucent are resigning, the group said Tuesday after it announced a huge 1.1 billion euro quarterly loss.

PARIS, July 29, 2008 (AFP) - French-US Telecommunication equipment giant Alcatel-Lucent on Tuesday announced that chief executive Patricia Russo and board chairman Serge Tchuruk would leave the company which has just announced major losses.

Russo will leave by the end of the year and Tchuruk, the non-executive chairman, will stand down on October 1, the company said in a statement.

MONTREAL, July 28, 2008 (AFP) - Telecommunications giant Bell Canada will eliminate about 2,500 management jobs as the company restructures to cut costs and increase competitivity, parent BCE Inc. said Monday.