WORLDCOM, the US communications company that has a 30 per cent stake in TCL Telecom, has reported first quarter revenues of $1.68 billion (£1.1 billion) an increase of 62 per cent on the same period in 1996 of $1.03 billion. TCL Telecom said yesterday the year-on-year increase was due to the merger with MFS Communications at the end of 1996, as well as strong internal growth across all communications services worldwide.

"The merger with WorldCom and MFS has given TCL Telecom further prevalence in the Irish market as it has allowed us offer customers new telecommunications services which compliment the existing high quality, cost effective service they are already receiving," said Mr Sean Melly, TCL's chief executive.