Avnet, Inc. (AVT) recently announced that it has acquired a controlling interest in Vanda Group from Hutchinson Whampoa Limited in a strategic move to expand its presence and customer base across China. Vanda Group will operate as an Avnet company while maintaining its current operations, management team and the Vanda brand. Vanda Group is a leading IT solutions and services provider covering major cities in China, Hong Kong and Macau, and has been around 27 years. Vanda Group provides systems integration services and solutions incorporating hardware and software from major suppliers including IBM (IBM), Lenovo, Cisco (CSCO), Sun (JAVA), Nokia (NOK) and Oracle (ORCL). The company serves clients from diverse industries including major banks, financial institutions, telecommunications companies, utilities and government departments. Vanda Group generated revenues of approximately $50 million in 2008 and employs more than 600 people. The transaction will ...

Avnet Inc. (AVT) recently entered into a distribution agreement with India-based MosChip Semiconductor Technology Ltd.

Based in Phoenix, Arizona, Avnet is one of the world’s largest distributors of electronic components and computer products. MosChip provides high performance multimedia and connectivity solutions for consumer, industrial and computing applications.

According to the deal, Avnet’s Electronics Marketing unit will distribute MosChip products throughout Asia. The distribution agreement spans Australia, China, India, Korea, Hong Kong, New Zealand, Taiwan and Southeast Asia. MosChip products include Network Appliance Processors and co-processors, audio / video processors, USB and PCI / PCI Express connectivity semiconductors.

Last month, Avnet reported weak fourth-quarter results as its top line remained challenged by adverse business conditions amid the global economic slowdown. The company’s organic growth continues to be lackluster and it continues to expand only through acquisitions.

Although both bookings and billings increased during the period and backlog was up

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ADC Telecommunications Inc. (ADCT) has decided to assist rural telecom service providers in preparing their applications for the Broadband Stimulus funds through the Rural Utilities Service (RUS) program.

The company recently formed a Rural Carrier User Group to coordinate with several carriers, broadband consultants and engineering firms to exchange information and develop new ideas for emerging FTTP deployments. The American Reinvestment & Recovery Act (ARRA) contains provisions that encourage telecom operators to apply for grants, loans and guarantees to assist them in deploying un-served and under-served communities for broadband access.

The Broadband Stimulus Program has received significant acceptance among rural carriers. Out the total allotment of $7.2 billion, the first round will inject $4 billion into the industry. Yesterday, National Telecommunications and Information Administration said it had received about $28 billion in bids from various telecom service providers for the first round of stimulus fund.

ADC Telecommunications is

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Small telecom equipment manufacturers, like Alvarion Ltd. (ALVR), Arris Group (ARRS), ADC Telecommunications (ADCT), and Anaren Inc. (ANEN), are expected to benefit from the $7.2 billion Broadband stimulus fund granted by the U.S. government under the Rural Utilities Service program.

The American Reinvestment & Recovery Act contains provisions that encourage telecom operators to apply for grants, loans and guarantees to assist them in deploying un-served and under-served communities for broadband access. Telecom-gear makers and infrastructure-solution providers will help the regional/rural telecom operators to plan, design, and implement broadband networks.

Recently, Alvarion received a five-year contract from Open Range Communications Inc, a U.S. wireless operator. The total contract size is more than $100 million. Alvarion will provide radio-access equipment, customer premises devices and systems integration for Open Range's broadband wireless network deployment spanning 17 states, 546 rural communities that may reach out to a population

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Optical Cable Corporation (OCCF), a manufacturer of fiber optic cables, reported third quarter 2008 financial results this afternoon after the close. Revenues jumped 40.4% to $16.4 million compared to $11.7 million for the same period in 2007. Excluding the impact of the acquisition of SMP Data Communications on May 30, 2008, revenues would have been $13.1 million, demonstrating an organic growth rate of 11.7%. Gross profit increased 31.8% to $6.2 million, up from $4.7 million in the third quarter of fiscal 2007. Net income fell 10% to $482,000, or 8 cents per share, compared to $538,000, or 9 cents per share, for the comparable period last year. No analysts currently cover the stock.

“We are pleased that Optical Cable continues to show significant net sales growth both in our U.S. and international markets despite weakness in the global economy,” said Neil Wilkin, President and CEO of Optical

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