Nokia Siemens Networks has begun cutting 1,500 jobs from the 6,900 staff it acquired with its $1.2 billion acquisition of Motorola''s telecoms network unit in April, a spokesman said.

The spokesman said the process, which affects staff working in the GSM and Wimax technology divisions in several countries including the United States, had begun in Britain.

Nokia Siemens Networks was formed in 2007 as a joint venture of Finnish cellphone maker Nokia and German engineering group Siemens.

It has struggled for profitability amid tight spending by operators and tough competition from rivals Huawei and Ericsson.