T-Mobile USA has announced it will cut 1,900 jobs as it reduces its customer service operations from 24 to 17 offices. The consolidation, which should be completed by the end of June, is aimed at transforming the US number-four operator’s cost structure to strengthen its competitive position.

"These are not easy steps to take, but they are necessary to realise efficiency in order to invest for growth,” said T-Mobile CEO and president Philipp Humm.

The call centres affected are in Allentown (Pennsylvania), Fort Lauderdale (Florida), Frisco, Brownsville (both Texas), Lenexa (Kansas), Thornton (Colorado) and Redmond (Oregon).

The company employs around 3,300 people at these facilities but there will be an opportunity for at least some of these members of staff to fill 1,400 roles at the other 17 call centres across the country.

Employees who take up roles at the other T-Mobile facilities will receive assistance to relocate, while those who lose their jobs will be offered transition packages including, severance pay and outplacement support.

“We have tremendous customer service representatives who are highly-skilled and dedicated to serving our customers. We hope as many as possible pursue transfers and stay with T-Mobile,” said Chief People Officer Larry Myers.

As well as the office closures and job cuts, T-Mobile USA plans to restructure other parts of its operations in the second quarter of the year. Money saved will be used to strengthen the company’s competitiveness with US$4 billion earmarked for a network modernisation programme including the launch of LTE in 2013. It also plans to invest in 1,000 new business sales roles.