Skip to main content

Out To Save £1 billion, Vodafone Cuts 500 U.K. Jobs

Out To Save £1 billion, Vodafone Cuts 500 U.K. Jobs

Time are tough all over. Last year Vodafone said it needed to trim its costs by £1 billion (around $1.5 billion), and yesterday it began putting the plan into action by giving pink slips to 500 of its 10,500 British employees.

In a statement the company said that "intends to reduce its cost base, whilst continuing to invest in new products and services to meet changing customer needs" in order to be competitive in the marketplace.

Recommended Videos

Communications workers union Connect responded by saying:

"We will be working very closely with the company to ensure that our members are treated with respect during this difficult time and that a full and proper process of consultation is carried out."

Digital Trends Staff
Digital Trends has a simple mission: to help readers easily understand how tech affects the way they live. We are your…
U.K. to double Apple Pay and Google Pay contactless payment limit
magsafe wallet is actually good apple 1

The U.K. is set to double the existing contactless payment limit, taking it to 100 British pounds, or about $140, over the summer, the BBC reported on Wednesday. Contactless payment is widespread in the U.K., not just through physical credit and debit cards, but by using mobile payment systems like Apple Pay and Google Pay too.

The previous limit was established as 45 pounds/$62 in 2020, a small rise from the prior 30/$42 pounds limit. Contactless payments have seen an increase in utility over the pandemic as cash has been downplayed due to fears of viral transmission. Contactless payments have also been adopted by new-style online, app-based banks such as Monzo, where payment can be made instantly from phones, even without having a corresponding physical card.

Read more
U.K. will remove Huawei from its 5G network by 2027
huawei mate 20 x 5g news

The United Kingdom government has altered its position on the use of Huawei’s 5G telecoms infrastructure equipment. Announced by Digital Secretary Oliver Dowden on Tuesday, July 14, Huawei 5G equipment must be removed from all U.K. networks by 2027, and network carriers will be banned from buying new 5G infrastructure hardware from Huawei after December 31 this year.

It’s a reversal of the decision made in January, when the government said Huawei equipment could be used in the U.K.’s 5G network, provided it was outside the “core” structure.

Read more
U.K. may be planning to phase out Huawei from its 5G networks by 2023
huawei harmonyos interview peter gauden building full

Huawei’s 5G network equipment division could soon be dealt another major blow. After the United States and Australia, multiple reports suggest the U.K. may be gearing up to phase out Huawei’s presence in the country’s 5G infrastructure.

The decision reportedly stems from mounting mutinous political pressure from certain members of the U.K.’s parliament -- that could potentially cost Prime Minister Boris Johnson the majority his administration needs to stay in power -- who claim Huawei's Chinese ties pose a national security risk.

Read more