AMERICAN IT equipment maker Avaya had agreed to buy Ireland’s Spectel, a maker of audio conferencing gear, for €85.7 million.

Telecom operator Esat BT and communications networks company Avaya have signed an agreement that will see Esat BT provide the full portfolio of Avaya's communications systems and applications to its business customers.

Avaya, a spin-off of Lucent Technologies, is planning a $200m (€229m) cost-cutting exercise which includes the loss of 1,900 positions globally.