Lucent merges switching and data units

Networking equipment manufacturer Lucent Technologies has combined its switching and data networking units and reshuffled a number of senior executives.

Networking equipment manufacturer Lucent Technologies has combined its switching and data networking units and reshuffled a number of senior executives.

The company claims that it is putting together the elements required to build next-generation communications networks.

"The Switching Solutions group and InterNetworking Systems are being combined to bring acquisitions made over the last two years in the data networking area in line with the company's specialist switching technology," said a company representative. "It is too early to say whether there will be redundancies and how the new unit will work with the channel."

Lucent's acquisitions include Springtide, Nexabit and Ascend.

"The time is right to combine our switching and data networking businesses in a way that meets the needs of large service providers," said chief executive Henry Schacht.

Janet Davidson, former group president of the company's data networking unit, has assumed responsibility for the combined group. The former head of the switching division, Frank D'Amelio, is taking on the role of chief financial officer after the departure of Deborah Hopkins.

The company is also reviewing offers for its fibre optic business, which is up for sale.

Also published in Computer Reseller News