KOLKATA: Norway's Telenor will cut 2,000 jobs - over 11% of its 17,500-strong India workforce - as part of a cost-cutting drive and reallocation of resources in the run-up to participating in the upcoming 2G airwaves auction.

Out of the 2,000 people being laid off, close to 400 are on the rolls of its India unit (Uninor), while the remaining 1,600 are on the rolls of the telco's distributors, a top company executive with direct knowledge of the development told ET.

The largest Nordic mobile operator plans to cut its India workforce by scaling down GSM operations in four regions - Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Karnataka and Odisha - out of the 13 zones where it is commercially active in its bid to unlock and reallocate funds to more profitable regions, amid the continuing policy uncertainty on the sale of 2G airwaves.

Uninor has around 400 direct employees across Odisha, Kerala, Karnataka and Tamil Nadu. As it gradually scales down in these circles, it will also evaluate possibilities of relocating some of the employees to other Uninor circles and also provide assistance in securing employment outside the company," said Tor Odland, vice-president (group communications), in a written response to ET's email query on the details of the India workforce reduction exercise.

But the Telenor spokesman confirmed that apart from impacting 400 direct Uninor employees, it would also hit 1,600 indirect employees, together "accounting for around 2,000 of (Uninor's) 17,500-strong workforce".Telenor spokesman confirmed that apart from impacting 400 direct Uninor employees, it would also hit 1,600 indirect employees, together "accounting for around 2,000 of (Uninor's) 17,500-strong workforce".

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