Telia Company will cut approximately 900 jobs across the group and target annual gross savings of SEK1 billion ($100 million), as part of a restructuring designed to push decision-making closer to its national markets.

The Swedish operator, which employed 14,100 people as of 1 October, expects to complete the restructure by 31 December, subject to union negotiations. The programme will result in charges of SEK600 million booked in Q4, with the cash flow impact falling mainly in 2027.

Finland bears the brunt of the headcount reduction, with 280 positions going, followed by Telia's home market of Sweden with 260. The cuts cover all units and include both direct employees and resource consultants.

What changes beyond the job cuts?

Alongside the reductions, Telia will transfer approximately 220 positions, primarily from its common Technology unit, into its country units. The company framed the moves as the next step in becoming "simpler, faster and more efficient", with an intention to localise operations further "and strengthen the role of its country units in meeting evolving customer needs".

The shift signals a rebalancing of the group's operating model: less centralised technical capability, more autonomy for national organisations that face distinct competitive conditions across the Nordics and Baltics.

Patrik Hofbauer, CEO and president at Telia, said the plan was part of building the future Telia, and that further localisation "means doubling down on what we know gets results".

"We must always become even simpler, faster and more efficient in everything we do. We want to empower our countries more, get the utmost from our common Technology unit and other Group Functions, and sharpen Telia's edge in a very competitive market," he added.

How large is the reduction?

The 900 roles represent roughly 6% of Telia's 14,100-strong workforce as of 1 October. The breakdown by market:

• Finland: 280 reductions, the most affected market

• Sweden: 260 reductions, the home market

• Remainder: cuts spread across all other units and markets, covering employees and consultants

• Role transfers: around 220 positions move from the common Technology unit primarily into country units

The commercial context

The SEK1 billion gross savings target comes with a SEK600 million one-off charge, meaning Telia does not expect the programme to pay for itself until the cash flow effects land mainly in 2027. Union negotiations remain a condition for completing the restructure by the 31 December deadline.

For Hofbauer, who frames the cuts as localisation rather than pure cost-trimming, the test will be whether country units with strengthened teams and a slimmed central Technology function can deliver both the targeted efficiency and sharper competitive performance in a market he himself describes as "very competitive".

The company will provide visibility into execution as the restructuring charges hit its Q4 results and the savings build through 2027.