Alcatel-Lucent targets U.S. federal market with new unit

Telecom equipment maker Alcatel-Lucent has formed an independent unit named LGS to service the U.S. federal government's military and civilian agencies and departments.

Based in Vienna, Va., LGS will bring together employees from Lucent's Government Solutions business unit, Lucent's Bell Labs Government Communications Lab and Alcatel Government Solutions Inc.

LGS expects to complete its operating structure and processes in early January. Ron Iverson, who oversaw Air Force marketing and business development for IT at Northrop Grumman Corp., will lead LGS. Dave Bishop, former president of Lucent's Bell Labs Government Research and Security Solutions, will be LGS' chief operating officer and chief technology officer.

Alcatel-Lucent began operating as a new company on Dec. 1, following the completion of Alcatel's $13.5 billion purchase of Lucent Technologies Inc. Alcatel-Lucent designs, builds and manages complex networks delivering converged services and communications.

Alcatel-Lucent of Paris has 79,000 employees in more than 130 countries. The company had combined revenues of $24.5 billion (U.S. dollars) in fiscal 2005. Lucent ranks No. 49 on Washington Technology's 2006 Top 100 list of the largest federal IT contractors.