Mining giant
Rio
Tinto will speed up its
outsourcing and offshoring programme as well as delay a number
of projects in an effort to cut capital and running costs.
The firm said this morning it would cut "rapidly accelerate"
outsourcing and off-shoring of IT and procurement in 2009. It would
also consolidate offices in the group, including the London head
office, and cut staff by 14,000, comprising 8,500 contractors and
5,500 employees.
This would save annual operating costs of $1.2bn, but incur
upfront severance costs of $400m, it said.
It would cut net capital expenditure guidance for 2009 from over
$9bn to $4bn, and reduce controllable operating costs by at least
$2.5bn/y in 2010.
Large European companies are spending more on wireless networks
than on wired networks, according to research commissioned by
network equipment supplier Motorola.