Orange to slim down

Orange is all set to reduce its manpower by 1,800 to 2,000 in the UK operations. The move will result in significant annual savings and a streamlined, more efficient organization. As a result, the organization would become 15 per cent leaner.

France Telecom, the parent company of Orange, is cutting the costs so as to compete effectively in the mobile phone business that is getting more and more competitive by the day. The move is a part of wider strategy to be followed worldwide by the parent company.

French state-owned telecommunications group France Telecom has operations in 19 countries worldwide. The parent company had already announced in February about its plan to reduce 17,000 jobs overall by the end of 2008.

The Orange downsizing is in line with the current trend adopted by some of the major players in mobile industry worldwide. Another major telecom player NTL is also likely to follow the suit.