Telstra to have 50 fewer centres

Telstra is set close its approximately 78 business centres and open 28 business technology centres in their place.

The first business technology centre will be located in Townsville, but the telco has yet to make the other locations public.

Telstra acting group executive for consumer and small business, Michael Ackland, said the business centres would be phased out as part of its transformation strategy announced in June.

“The rollout of Telstra business technology centres across the country is part of our T22 strategy to simplify our offerings for customers and to reduce unnecessary complexity,” he said.

In June, chief executive Andy Penn announced a substantial structural change for the telco, which would result in the loss of 8,000 of employees over three years.

Shares in Telstra closed up 0.96 per cent to trade at $3.16.