When AT&T (T) spun off its systems and technology business in April 1996 under the moniker Lucent Technologies (LU), many analysts and investors were skeptical. They wondered if the chunk of AT&T that had made up its equipment manufacturing business would be successful as a stand-alone operation.

What was Lucent before?

TypePublicPredecessorWestern Electric Bell Labs AT&T TechnologiesFoundedSeptember 30, 1996Defunct2006FateMerged with Alcatel SA

When did Nokia buy ALU?

When Nokia Oyj bought Alcatel-Lucent in 2016, it looked like a strategic win for Chief Executive Officer Rajeev Suri. Instead, the deal left a trail of problems that’s forcing the Finnish network equipment maker to reconsider its entire business.