Spirent Communications eliminates 75 positions

By Sean Hao
Advertiser Staff Writer

Spirent Communications announced yesterday that it cut 75 jobs company-wide this week, including an unspecified number of positions at its Honolulu operations.

The cutbacks continue an erosion of the communications equipment maker's local workforce, which at its peak in 2000 totaled about 300 people. The London-based company reported having about 170 employees at its Honolulu research and development operations before the latest job cuts, which were aimed at keeping the company profitable.

Spirent would not specify the number of jobs eliminated at its various locations, except to note that the cuts made Tuesday affected operations in Honolulu, California, Boston, Chicago and Texas, among other locations.

Despite the layoffs and the recent relocation of local Spirent managers to the Mainland, "we remain committed to our operations in Hawai'i," said Spirent spokeswoman Cathi Lane. "We're sizing our company for industry demands and for areas of growth for the company."

Lane would not specify whether employees who lost jobs received severance benefits.

Spirent, which makes network testing equipment, has seen sales and profits slide amid a downturn in the telecommunications industry. The company's local operations formerly were known as Adtech.

Shares of Spirent Plc closed down 13 cents, or 8 percent, at $1.45 a share on the New York Stock Exchange yesterday.

Reach Sean Hao at shao@honoluluadvertiser.com or 525-8093.