Carphone Warehouse is expected to reveal about 400 job losses as part of a cost-cutting programme.

The job losses are expected to be mainly among support staff and a consultation period is likely to start today.

According the Guardian among those affected will be call centre staff who were brought in two years ago to cope with a deluge of complaints when Carphone launched its free broadband offer.

Carphone Warehouse has 2,400 stores in nine countries and employs 12,500 in the UK. Job losses are not expected in its retail stores.

Carphone Warehouse’s retail division is expected to grow following a joint venture with US electricals giant Best Buy that will pitch it against UK chains such as Currys and Comet.

Last month Carphone Warehouse announced that it would review its structure and financial disclosure policy.