Alcatel-Alsthom

Alcatel SA

Company type	Public (formerly government-owned)
Industry	Telecommunications, Industrial conglomerate
Predecessor	Compagnie Générale d’Électricité (CGE)
Founded	1970
Defunct	2006
Fate	Merged with Lucent Technologies to form Alcatel-Lucent; later merged into Nokia
Headquarters	France , France
Area served	Worldwide
Key people	Ambroise Roux (chairman), Georges Pébereau (chairman), Pierre Suard (chairman), Serge Tchuruk (chairman and CEO)
Products	Digital telephone switching systems, submarine transmission cables, satellite communication devices, cellular network infrastructure, DSL access technology

Alcatel SA was a prominent French industrial conglomerate operating between 1963 and 2006. It originated from Compagnie Générale d’Électricité (CGE), established in 1898 as a government-owned company specializing in cable and telephone equipment. Over time, CGE diversified into sectors such as construction, shipbuilding, and energy. Within telecommunications, Alcatel became a leading provider of digital telephone switching systems, both terrestrial and submarine transmission cables, satellite communication devices, cellular network infrastructure, and DSL access technology.

The Alcatel name, initially an acronym for Société Alsacienne de Constructions Atomiques, de Télécommunications et d'Électronique, was created in Mulhouse under SACM, an engineering conglomerate. Around 1968–1970, it was integrated into Compagnie industrielle des télécommunications (CIT), the telecommunications branch of CGE. The French government nationalized CGE in 1982 under François Mitterrand’s administration and later privatized it in 1987. The corporation was rebranded as Alcatel Alsthom in 1991 before simplifying to Alcatel in 1998 following the divestiture of Alstom to concentrate solely on telecommunications.

In 2006, Alcatel completed a $13.4 billion acquisition of the American telecom company Lucent Technologies and subsequently adopted the name Alcatel-Lucent S.A.. This entity was eventually merged into Nokia in 2016. The Alcatel brand persists through various subsidiaries including Alcatel Submarine Networks (telecommunication infrastructure), Alcatel-Lucent Enterprise (software solutions), Alcatel Mobile (mobile handsets), and Atlinks (fixed-line telephony).

Predecessors

• 1898 – Pierre Azaria, a French engineer, founds Compagnie Générale d'Électricité (CGE).
• 1919 – Aaron Weil invents the "Téléphone privé" (Private telephone).
• 1925 – CGE merges with Compagnie Générale des Câbles de Lyon; Bell Telephone Laboratories is established.
• 1927 – The firm adopts the designation "Téléphonie Industrielle et Commerciale" (TELIC).
• 1928 – Alsthom is created through Société Alsacienne de Constructions Mécaniques and Compagnie Française Thomson-Houston.
• 1946 – CGE establishes CIT (Compagnie Industrielle de Téléphone).
• 1947 – ALSATEL is founded to enhance sales operations.
• 1952 – ITT Corporation acquires Kellogg Switchboard and Supply Company, rebranding its products as ITT Kellogg.
• 1954 – TELIC acquires COFRATEL.
• 1960 – TELIC introduces Crossbar switching technology.
• 1965 – CGE takes over TELIC, making it a subsidiary of CIT.

Alcatel

• 1970 – Formation of Alcatel through the merger of CIT and ENTE (a SACM division); Ambroise Roux appointed chairman of CGE.
• 1977 – Introduction of Alcatel’s first digitally controlled PBX system.
• 1980 – Launch of the Minitel videotex service.
• 1984 – Georges Pébereau becomes chairman of CGE; Thompson telecommunications merges into CGE; Câbles de Lyon acquires Thompson Jeumont Cables and Kabelmetal.
• 1985 – Merger of CIT-Alcatel with Thompson's telecom division forms Alcatel.
• 1986 – ITT Corporation divests its international telecom and cable operations to Alsthom, resulting in the creation of Alcatel N.V., with ITT retaining a 37% share; Pierre Suard assumes chairmanship at CGE.
• 1987 – Privatization of CGE; Alsthom secures contract for TGV Atlantique high-speed rail.
• 1989 – Formation of GEC Alsthom by CGE and British General Electric Company to expand global sales; CGEE-Alsthom is renamed Cegelec.
• 1991 – CGE rebrands as Alcatel Alsthom; acquires Rockwell Technologies’ transmission division; Câbles de Lyon becomes Alcatel Cable and purchases AEG Kabel; Italian company Telettra is acquired by Alcatel.
• 1992 – Acquisition of AEG Kabel completed; ITT sells its remaining stake in Alcatel N.V. for approximately $3.6 billion.
• 1993 – Purchase of STC Submarine Systems from Nortel Networks finalized.
• 1994 – Alcatel Network Systems awarded the Shingo Prize for Excellence in Manufacturing at multiple U.S. facilities.
• 1995 – Serge Tchuruk named chairman and CEO; initiates corporate restructuring emphasizing telecommunications equipment.
• 1997 – IndustryWeek's Best Plants award granted to Raleigh, North Carolina manufacturing site.
• 1998 – Separation from Alsthom GEC which becomes Alstom via initial public offering (Alcatel retains a 24% stake); Cegelec sold to Alstom; acquisitions include DSC Communications for $4.4 billion and Packet Engines.
• 1999 – Acquisitions include Xylan, Assured Access, Internet Devices; increases shareholding in Thomson CSF to 25.3%, while reducing Framatome stake to 8.6%.
• 2000 – Divests DSL modem business to Thomson Multimedia; acquires Newbridge Networks, Genesys, Innovative Fibers; spins off cable division as Nexans.
• 2001 – Sells remaining stake in Alstom; reacquires Alcatel Space investment from Thales, reducing Thales’ ownership to 20.03%; disposes Areva shares.
• 2002 – Purchases Astral Point Communications, Telera Corporation, gains control over Alcatel Shanghai Bell; sells microelectronics division to STMicroelectronics along with stakes in Thomson, Thales, Nexans.
• 2003 – Acquires iMagicTV and TiMetra Inc.; divests half ownership in Atlinks and optical business units to Avanex.
• 2004 – Acquires eDial Inc.; establishes joint ventures with TCL (Alcatel Mobile Phones holding a 45% share) and Draka Holdings (Draka Comteq B.V., holding a 49.9% interest); completes acquisition of Spatial Wireless; sells Avanex shares.
• 2005 – Disposes its entire 45% holding in Alcatel Mobile Phones back to TCL.