UK managing director Adrian Hurel put the blame on the firm's networking carrier business. Sales in the networking giant's carrier business declined by 43 per cent. The slowdown in telecoms spending is affecting 3Com's carrier business as firms hold back investment, which in turn is distorting 3Com's results, said Hurel. However, he expects an upturn as customer confidence in the telecoms sector increases. The carrier business suffers from unpredictable finances because of its tendency for large, one-off deals, he explained.
Numbers are down on the quarter because some of our telco partners are restructuring.