Franklin Telecom to Buy Symbio-Tech

Franklin Telecommunications Corp. in Westlake Village has agreed to buy Symbio-Tech, a Phoenix-based provider of Lucent/Excel-based programmable switching products.

Lucent acquired Excel Switching Corp. last year to gain products that will boost sales to start-up phone companies. Industry estimates are that more than 1,000 new phone companies will be operating by 2003.

Steve Lee, Franklin’s executive vice president for corporate development, said the acquisition will strengthen Franklin’s software development, engineering, installation and customer service resources.

Terms of the acquisition were not released.