Cisco Systems have announced cuts that will see the loss of 4,000 jobs as it moves to focus on key businesses.

Jobs will be cut in middle management as the networking giant moves to develop business development speeds.

The cuts were disclosed during a conference call on the last quarter’s profits which totalled $12.4 billion from a 6 per cent increase year-on-year.

Cisco CEO John Chambers reasoned that cuts had to be implemented in order to compete in a rapidly changing market: “We just have too much in the middle of the organisation".

Cisco begins expansion programme