KPNQwest is to axe up to 440 staff across Europe as part of costs cutting measures, the company said today.

Between 10 and 20 per cent of its 2,200 employees are to be axed with some 140 positions being shed in The Netherlands.

The rest will come from its other operations in countries throughout Europe including the UK.

The pan-European data and hosting company based in Hoofddorp, The Netherlands, isn't revealing exact numbers of job losses in each country.

However, a spokeswoman for KPNQwest in the UK told The Register: "The job losses are across the board - across all areas, departments, all countries.

The decision was taken to "maximise competitiveness and productivity" at the company, she said.

Last month the company reported total revenues for Q3 of 197.6 million euros (£123.11 million), up almost 50 per cent on the same quarter last year.

Earnings before interest etc (EBITDA) was 2.7million euros (£1.68 million) for the quarter compared to a loss of 31.2 million euros (£19.4 million). ®

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