Nokia Layoffs 2026: There is panic in Nokia, announcement of layoffs of 14,000 employees, may fall in India too

News India Live, Digital Desk: Nokia, once the uncrowned king of the mobile phone world, is now taking tough decisions to save its survival and profits. The company plans to reduce its global workforce by up to 20%, which will directly impact approximately 14,000 employees. This wave of layoffs has now created uneasiness in the corridors of Nokia India as well, where the company employs more than 17,000 employees. Why is the threat looming in India? India has always been a big and important market for Nokia, but in recent months, the company’s performance has declined here: Decline in sales: Nokia India’s net sales declined by 15% in the fourth quarter of 2025 Is. Revenue has fallen from 463 million euros (about ₹ 5,000 crore) to 393 million euros (about ₹ 4,290 crore). Slow pace of 5G: The pace of 5G rollout in India is no longer the same, due to which the demand for telecom equipment has decreased. 3 major reasons for layoffs (Major Reasons) Global restructuring: The company has done ‘horizontal setup’ to simplify its functioning. Returning back. The merger of cloud and mobile networks in 2023 had led to duplication of many positions, which is now being removed. Cost cutting: Nokia aims to save approximately 1.2 billion euros (about ₹ 11,000 crore) by the end of 2026, so that it can prepare for future AI-based network needs. Market uncertainty: The looming global economic slowdown and reduced spending by telecom operators are impacting Nokia’s Pressure on profits has increased. Leadership Shift in India. In this time of crisis, Nokia has also changed its command in India: Samar Mittal: He has been appointed as ‘India Country Business Leader’. Vibha Mehra: She will hold the post of ‘India Country Manager’ from April 1, 2026. Former head Tarun Chhabra has left the company amid this major reshuffle. Future path: ‘AI’ and ‘Network Infra’ Focus on Even though the company is doing layoffs, Nokia’s vision is clear about the ‘AI-driven’ network of the future. CEO Lundmark believes that these tough decisions will make the company stronger and agile. However, the next few months are going to be full of uncertainty for the employees.