Serge Tchuruk Quotations

Now seems to be the optimal time because this combination gives both companies a time-to-market advantage in a market that is changing quickly.

We continue to benefit from our leading position in the triple play services that are transforming carrier networks across the world.

We have some very positive points at Alcatel, such as in fast Internet access and optical gear, ... I keep hearing that the European market is going to slow down in telecom and the like and, frankly, I don't believe it.

We anticipate that the carrier market will continue to grow in the mid single digit range for the full year 2006.

We do acquire when we need to complement whatever we've got ... but we aren't one of these companies that is, to a large extent, acquiring technology from outside parties, ... If there are opportunities, we may pursue them, but it's not a priority goal within Alcatel these days.

We were particularly pleased to see our fixed communication revenues start increasing again, as anticipated, reversing a four-year decline,

We expect that our top-line growth will be around 30 percent for the telecom segments, as opposed to mid-teens as was conveyed at the beginning of the year, ... We also believe that for the year 2000, we should meet our recurring target to grow Alcatel's operating income twice as fast as sales.

We are very competitive, actually; we did much better than others,

Five years ago, we went a very long way to get this done and discussion broke in the last minutes.

As far as operating income goes, we hope to report a positive result this year, but the market is not helping us. It's a challenge,

Alcatel is making a major move to become a worldwide leader in new-generation networks, which will handle the explosive growth of data with the appropriate quality of service,

This combination is about a strategic fit between two experienced and well-respected global communications leaders who together would become the global leader in convergence.

Expanding operating profitability in the future will continue to remain a priority focus,

In the last few days, I have had discussions with the French public authorities. They told me: 'It's your business and that of your administrative board'. I did not feel any reticence. Quite the contrary.

In uncertain markets, Alcatel's success will hinge on operating flexibility... considerable streamlining is underway at Alcatel to improve flexibility and realign its internal cost structure to the current business slowdown,

In the midst of a severe telecom industry re-set that is leaving no participant unscathed, Alcatel has thus far been able to maintain revenue growth and deliver positive income from operations,

The fit between the people was perhaps not as good as one would have hoped.