Vodafone Group, the world's largest mobile operator by sales, is set to slash up

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to 500 jobs in the UK, says a media report.

"Vodafone is set to announce up to 500 job cuts at its Newbury headquarters," The Times reported.

According to the publication, Vodafone declined to comment.

As part of a new one-billion-pound cost-cutting programme announced last year, Vodafone would reduce the number of people working for the company's UK operation in areas such as back-office functions and middle management, the report said.

It shed 500 UK staff last year, mostly in Newbury, but also created new jobs in its retail and Internet operations, it added.