Nokia Siemens Networks (NSN) is to close its factory in Bruchsal, Germany, with 650 jobs due to go.

According to Reuters, the company said the workers at the plant had been informed about the plan earlier. The first set of workers are due to leave in the next three to six months, according to the arrangement.

The joint venture between Nokia and Siemens announced a significant restructuring in November 2011 in a bid to cut EUR 1 billion in costs by the end of 2013.

Measures included cutting 17,000 jobs, 23 per cent of the global workforce, and selling off various business units as the company moves to specialise in mobile broadband.

In the past year, NSN has sold most of its operations to other companies, in a bid to re-strategise. It was in talks to sell its business support systems division in September this year.