Germany's SIEMENS has announced the creation, on 1 April next in the United States, of a new company active in optical networks, baptised OPTISPHERE NETWORKS INC. The new venture is expected to have turnover of EUR 300 million in its first year of operation. The German group is also interested in the takeover of DEBIS SYSTEMHAUS (sales of EUR 12.9 billion in 1999), the information technology subsidiary of the German-American group DAIMLERCHRYSLER.