Also in the news . . .

Broadband Technologies (Research Triangle Park, NC) has signed a development contract for Lucent Technologies AnyMedia Access System, together with other agreements valued at more then $50 million over three years. . . . Pirelli Cables and Systems North America (Columbia, SC) has opened new 20,000-sq ft headquarters for its Telecom Systems Division in Columbia, SC. Instead of the traditional ribbon-cutting ceremony, Senator Ernest Hollings (D-SC) dedicated the new building by sending e-mail messages to communications executives. . . . Lucent Technologies (Holmdel, NJ) expects its annual sales of fiberoptic telecommunications equipment to Brazil to increase from $250 million in 1997 to $1.5 billion in 2001. . . . Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd. (Seoul, South Korea) has announced a new production process for fiberoptic cables, enabling the production of cables up to 250 km at 25% lower prices and 60% better productivity.