Australian telecommunications giant Telstra has unveiled plans to slash approximately 650 jobs, marking its second major workforce reduction in less than a year.
The move comes just eight months after the company liquidated 550 roles, signaling a continued aggressive shift in its operational strategy.
According to an internal announcement delivered by CEO Vicki Brady, the cuts will primarily impact two sectors of the business.
At its AI joint venture, 209 roles will be eliminated from Telstra's $700 million artificial intelligence partnership with Accenture, which launched in early 2025.
Meanwhile, an additional 442 positions are slated for removal at its global outsourcing operations, with the associated workload being transitioned to the Indian multinational information technology firm, Infosys.
Brady informed staff that employees affected by the outsourcing shift would be given the option to submit an "expression of interest" to join Infosys or accept a redundancy package.
A Telstra spokesperson emphasised a commitment to "exploring redeployment opportunities" within Telstra or Accenture for those impacted.
"If redeployment isn't possible, departing team members will have access to leading retrenchment benefits and comprehensive support services," the spokesperson stated.