Lucent Technologies, the world's largest telecommunications equipment maker, yesterday posted a stronger-than-expected 50 per cent increase in fourth-quarter profits. The company has more than 500 employees in the Republic and plans to double this within five years. Fourth-quarter profits, excluding acquisition-related charges, rose to $972 million (#918 million), or 31 cents a share, from $647 million, or 21 cents a share, a year earlier.