Vodafone has confirmed speculation it is to cut jobs in the UK in an effort to reduce operating costs, announcing in a statement today the loss of 500 staff “across the business.” According to a BBC report, the losses include 170 posts at Vodafone’s head office in Newbury, Berkshire, in “back-office type roles.” The BBC report adds that all the group’s UK operations are set to be affected, including a reorganisation of some of its call centres. The move affects about 5 percent of its UK workforce. The operator said in November last year that it expected to reduce its worldwide operating costs by £1 billion a year by 2011.

In its own statement, Vodafone stressed that it will continue to invest in new products and services “to meet changing customer needs.” It added that “new roles are being created to develop total communications services and solutions and in addition the retail estate and online services will be the focus for ongoing investment.”