Cisco Buys 10% of Israeli Telecom Start-Up

Cisco Systems (CSCO Quote) has invested $15 million for 10% of Be Connected, a start-up belonging to Israel's Telrad Networks group.

Telrad is owned by the Koor Industries (KOR Quote).

Be Connected offers full-service communications solutions over its TAS platform, which can handle communications on either copper wire or optic networks. The start-up's potential customers are traditional phone companies -- ILECs, and the young wireless communications companies known as CLECs.

Be Connected hit the headlines in recent months when Telrad canned some of its executives after a fight over the start-up's shareholder equity. The squabble spilled over to Telrad's negotiations with Orckit Communications (ORCT Quote), which backed away from a plan to buy Be Connected for $160 million.