PARIS, March 7 -- Alcatel has announced it has signed an agreement to acquire Native Networks, a provider of carrier-class optical Ethernet transport technology, for $55 million in cash. The companies began a cooperative effort in 2003 to develop a unique Ethernet packet ring technology that allows operators to introduce Ethernet features through an add-on engine to existing Alcatel optical multiservice networks or through equipment in new installations. Native Networks is based in Maidenhead, US and has research and development facilities in Petah Tikva, Israel. For more information, visit: www.alcatel.com