US cable giant Charter Communications is set to lay off nearly 1,200 employees, representing just over one per cent of its 95,000-strong workforce, as part of an organisational restructuring effort aimed at streamlining operations, according to a source familiar with the matter.
The job cuts will primarily affect corporate management roles and will not impact employees in sales or customer service, the source added.
In September, Comcast revealed plans to trim jobs within its broadband and pay-TV divisions to centralise operations. Meanwhile, Paramount Skydance, following its recent merger, is preparing to cut around 2,000 U.S. positions starting next week.
Charter’s restructuring comes amid intensifying competition from telecom companies offering bundled internet and 5G mobile packages. The company lost 1,17,000 internet customers in the second quarter of 2024, following a decline of 60,000 subscribers in the first quarter. However, it added 5,00,000 mobile lines during the same period, slightly below market expectations.
In a bid to strengthen its position, Charter is pursuing a $21.9 billion acquisition of Cox Communications, which would make it the largest cable TV and broadband provider in the US. Additionally, the company recently announced a joint venture with Comcast to launch a mobile virtual network operator (MVNO) using T-Mobile’s 5G network, expected to debut commercially in 2026.
