Revenue was hit by lower demand for 2G mobile equipment and core networking products First-quarter operating profit dipped at telecoms equipment maker Alcatel-Lucent on weak sales of the company’s products for wireless and core networks.Revenue for the first quarter fell 8 percent to €3.9 billion ($5.2 billion as of March 31, the last day in the period reported), with an adjusted operating loss of €260 million, according to preliminary figures from the company. It plans to announce its full financial results for the quarter on May 11.Alcatel and Lucent Technologies merged last year in a move to fend of growing competition from Asian manufacturers, particularly China’s Huawei Technologies Co., as well as newly merged Nokia Siemens Networks and Telefonaktiebolaget LM Ericsson. First-quarter revenue was hit in part by lower demand for 2G (second-generation) mobile network equipment in emerging markets, Alcatel-Lucent said. Demand for the company’s core networking products, such as switches, routers, and transmission systems, was also down.But the French-U.S. manufacturer said it expects sales to rebound, after signing deals for new broadband mobile technologies such as HSPA (High Speed Packet Access) and a 3G (third-generation) network contract in China.The company also expects to post a capital gain of €780 million in the first quarter after completing the sale of satellite and other assets to Thales SA. Technology Industry