Alcatel NV has established a joint venture in St Petersburg. Alcatel DS was set up with a 5m rouble statutory fund, with plans to increase it to 300m roubles in mid-year, with Alcatel SEL AG of Stuttgart holding 59% and the state-run enterprise responsible for long distance telecommunications and equipment manufacturer Dalnyaya Svyaz, St Petersburg, in co-operation with Telekom, majority owned by the Russian ministry of Communications and the regional centre for international communication. Alcatel DS will be involved in renovation and construction of international communications systems. Dalnyaya Svyaz is part of a venture with AT&T Co.
