Nokia, a pioneer in early cellular technology and once the world’s largest mobile phone manufacturer, is now preparing to make massive cuts to its workforce. As part of a major restructuring plan aimed at reducing its global headcount by up to 14,000, the company has initiated preparations for layoffs within its teams in India as well.
Report by Moneycontrol: Company is expected to cut its global workforce by 20 percent
According to a report by Moneycontrol, Nokia is expected to cut its global workforce by 20 percent. The Finnish giant currently employs over 74,000 people worldwide. In India, Nokia has a workforce of just over 17,000 employees.
These developments come at a time when several major companies, such as Amazon, Microsoft, and Google, have laid off thousands of employees. There are also rumours that Meta is planning to lay off more than 15,000 employees.
It is reported that Nokia’s performance in India has been declining. In the fourth quarter of 2025, the company’s net sales in India fell by 15 percent year-on-year to 393 million euros (approximately ₹4,290 crore). In comparison, the company had recorded net sales of 463 million euros (approximately ₹5,000 crore) in India during the same quarter a year earlier.
Nokia Initiates Restructuring in India
The report states that Nokia has begun implementing changes within its leadership structure in India. Effective April 1, 2026, Samar Mittal has been appointed as the Country Business Leader for India, while Vibha Mehra has been named the Country Manager for India. Amidst these organisational changes, Tarun Chhabra, the former head of Nokia’s India operations, has stepped down from his position.
Under the new organisational structure, Mittal will oversee the entire customer portfolio from end to end, a role that entails greater operational control compared to that held by his predecessor. As a result of this latest restructuring, job cuts are expected across various functions in India, including general and global roles. It is believed that the merger of Nokia’s Cloud and Network Services with Mobile Networks in 2023 led to some duplication of work. These layoffs are expected to address this issue as well.
Nokia’s workforce has shrunk by approximately 30,000 over the last 8 years.
Over the years, Nokia’s global workforce has witnessed a steady decline. It is reported that in 2018, the company had approximately 103,000 employees. This figure has now dropped to 74,100. During this same period, the employee count in India has decreased by 500.
It is being reported that the company plans to implement further job cuts in Europe. According to reports, approximately 1,400 jobs could be eliminated across its various teams in Greece, Italy, Germany, and France. Nokia’s telecom rival, Ericsson, is also reducing its workforce. The company laid off approximately 5,000 employees last year, and further layoffs are likely to be planned for the future.
Also Read: Tech Layoffs 2026: Amazon, Meta, and Major Tech Companies Cut Thousands of Jobs
