Orange and T-Mobile merger puts 2,000 jobs at risk

A merger between telecoms companies Orange and T-Mobile will create the UK’s largest mobile phone operator, but analysts estimate that up to 2,000 jobs may be at risk, reports the Times, with the new company looking to cut £3.5bn in costs.

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Tom Alexander, who currently runs Orange, and is to become chief executive of the merged company, has refused to disclose exactly how many jobs are on the line.

It is expected that back-office staff will be worst hit, with less severe cuts to retail staff, as both T-Mobile and Orange outlets will be maintained for the first 18 months after the merger. The European Commission approved the merger following the Office of Fair Trading’s withdrawal of its request for an in-depth investigation into the deal.