Alcatel posts rise in Q1 revenue

French telecoms equipment maker Alcatel http://www.alcatel.com has posted slight rises in first quarter operating profit due to ongoing 3G development. However, according to analysts, the profits were lower than expected due to declines at the mobile network unit. The company's revenue in the first quarter rose 3.7 per cent year-on-year to 2.61 billion euros. As the company reports in a press release on its website, despite a 69 million euro capital gain from the Nexans' share disposal, net income fell by more than a half to 124 million euros. The 2004 first-quarter profit had been boosted by 231 million euros worth of income from discontinued operations. Operating profit in the first quarter increased 27 per cent from the same period last year to 107 million euros.