C&W restructure underway
Telco set to focus on cutting back jobs and customer numbers
Cable and Wireless (C&W) plans to cull half its UK work force and dramatically reduce its customer base as the troubled telco restructures its business.
It expects its UK headcount will fall from 5,500 to between 2,500 and 3,500 over the next four to five years, with 350 going this year. C&W's customer base of 30,000 will drop to 3,000 large corporate customers and public institutions.
C&W pulled the plug on its channel as exclusively revealed by CRN last month (CRN, 30 January) after terminating distribution agreements with Westcon and Interface Advantage.
John Pluthero, chairman of C&W UK, said: "We have already made significant progress in the relatively short amount of time we have had. We know what we want to do and, from our track record at Energis, have proven we can do it.
"Customers are crying out for a better experience from their telecommunications supplier and we intend to give then just that," added Pluthero.