100,000 jobs at risk: Pink slips on the rise across telcom firms

After decline in profitability and piling debts, the telecom sector is in the middle of a large-scale layoff. Estimates suggest more than 25,000 direct employees across telcos may have been hit over the past few months and that several more thousand jobs may face the axe soon. Overall, more than 100,000 telecom jobs, including indirect employment, could be at risk.

The sector is going through a challenging phase and consolidation is a reality. Recent merger announcements include those between Reliance Communication (RCom) and MTS, Bharti Airtel and Telenor, Vodafone and Idea Cellular. Tata Teleservices is also likely to announce a