HELSINKI, Finland, Feb. 13 -- Nokia Networks, the infrastructure arm of Nokia, announced it will eliminate approximately 550 positions in the US, the UK, Sweden and Finland as part of an effort to streamline its research and development (R&D) sites, improve its efficiency and cut costs. The company said a number of the employees are expected to be able to relocate within Nokia. Nokia Networks will centralize its broadband access activities by transferring work from its site in Santa Rosa, Calif., to its broadband site in Espoo, Finland. The consolidation will result in the eventual closing of the Santa Rosa facility. The company said it will also increase the broadband access headcount in Finland, transfer some positions to its Mountain View, Calif., site, and continue to increase partnering in broadband R&D and testing. In addition, Nokia Networks plans to close its small base station R&D site in Kista, Sweden, and to reduce the number of employees in its UK R&D site due to a reduced need for hardware R&D work. A small material purchasing and planning unit in the UK will also be under review, the company said, as it plans to transfer its operations to larger sites. For more information, visit: www.nokia.com