Telecom group KPN is to cut its workforce in the Netherlands by up to 25% – or 4,000 to 5,000 jobs, the former state-owned company said on Thursday.

The job losses are part of a plan to take the company up to 2015 and involve contracting out and ‘off-shoring’ back office jobs.
New CEO Eelco Blok said in a statement the measures are necessary because of ‘negative trends’ in the Netherlands. ‘I’m confident that we are taking all necessary measures to strengthen and grow our businesses,’Blok said.
KPN also said it now expects operating profit from mobile telephony to reach at least €5.3bn this year. Earlier the company said ebitda earnings would be in line with 2010’s €5.5bn.