Telecommunications gear maker Avaya is cutting 400 jobs, most by the end of May.

The cuts come on top of layoffs, attrition and retirements that eliminated another 600 positions this year.

Company spokeswoman Deb Kline says most of the new cuts will hit Avaya’s headquarters in Basking Ridge, N.J. She blamed the cuts on the weak economy and slow sales of telecommunications equipment.

Avaya was spun off by Lucent Technologies in 2000 with 34,000 workers. It has slimmed down through repeated restructurings and now has 18,000 employees, with about 10 percent in New Jersey.

The company was publicly traded until two private equity groups bought it last year for $8.2 billion.