TELECOM giant Cable & Wireless is the target of a £4 billion (€5.96bn) takeover bid being prepared by France Telecom, it was reported yesterday.

Japan Telecom Co has tied up with Equant, a major global data-communications firm affiliated with France Telecom, in a drive to provide communications services to globally active Japanese companies using Equant's communications network covering 220 countries and regions, the Nihon Keizai Shimbun reported, citing sources close to the deal.

IP and data services solutions provider, Equant has selected ActiVia Networks to provide content-enabling features which will allow Equant's customers' desktops to make intelligent decisions on how to download information in any format, making it quicker and more efficient to download information.