NBN Co is set to cut 200 roles from its network engineering and operations division before the end of the year.

The announcement of cuts falls in the same week as it was revealed that NBN Co paid out $42.7 million in bonuses in the past financial year, including almost $2 million to top executives.

The plans were communicated internally to NBN Co staff today and confirmed by iTnews.

Though the exact number is still to be finalised, it is currently envisioned that 200 roles will be eliminated.

This will be partially offset with the creation of 100 new positions, meaning a net reduction of 100 staff.

“NBN Co has consulted with and informed employees of changes to its network engineering and operations division to help meet new capability needs at this stage of the network rollout,” a spokesperson told iTnews.

“The workforce changes impact a number of our employees and decisions like these are never easy. We are currently undergoing consultation with our staff to seek feedback on the proposed changes.

“We are working to support affected employees and are assessing opportunities for redeployment within the company.”

The spokesperson said that the changes had been “subject to open and extensive consultation with those affected, and will come into effect by 13 December 2018.”

“Employees will receive comprehensive support through dedicated outplacement services and internal support programs,” the spokesperson said.

iTnews understands that the cuts impact support staff located nationwide, including some employees of NBN contact centres.

However it was not immediately clear exactly which other areas within the division had been earmarked for reductions.

Network engineering and operations is a relatively new organisational unit within NBN Co, only coming into being on July 1 last year.

It comprises the previous network service operations department and the network performance engineering team, and is led by chief network engineering officer Peter Ryan.