3:25 PM -- ECI Telecom Ltd. has been talking for a while now about the new business opportunities with "utelcos" -– utility companies that build communications networks as an additional wholesale or retail sales opportunity, or just for their own use. (See ECI Targets Utility Networks.)

And that focus looks to be paying off. This week ECI announced a multimillion-dollar deal with major French electricity supplier RTE, while in September it announced a deal with Danish utility firm ELRO Amba. (See ECI Wins Power Deal and ELRO Picks ECI.)

Previously, ECI landed deals in China and India, among other markets. (See ECI Wins in China, ECI Lands Indian Optical Deal, and ECI Wins Euro MSPP Deal.)

Coupled with the growing opportunities offered by municipal network rollouts, which are becoming more common in North America and Europe, the utelco market offers a decent, incremental revenue stream for vendors with an eye for a new opportunity.

— Ray Le Maistre, International News Editor, Light Reading