EL7.AI
StocksMedium•22 October 2026•
2 min read

Telia raises 2026 outlook amid plan to cut about 900 jobs

Key Facts

1Telia proposed cutting about 900 jobs and targeting annual gross savings of 1 billion Swedish crowns.
2The 2026 guidance in the first-quarter presentation included growth of about 2% in service revenue and 3% in adjusted earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortisation.
3Service revenue grew 2.1% and adjusted earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortisation rose 4.0% in the first quarter.
4First-quarter free cash flow rose to about 1.9 billion Swedish crowns from 1.7 billion crowns in the corresponding period.

Telecoms operator Telia raised its financial outlook for 2026, according to a Reuters report on October 22, after posting growth in service revenue and adjusted earnings in the first quarter. Under the annual guidance included in its first-quarter presentation, the company had targeted service revenue growth of about 2% on a like-for-like basis. It also targeted growth of about 3% in adjusted earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortisation on the same basis. In its first-quarter results, Telia reported like-for-like service revenue growth of 2.1%. Adjusted earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortisation grew 4.0% over the same period. First-quarter growth in both service revenue and adjusted earnings thus exceeded the rates included in the annual guidance presented at the time.

On cash flow, Telia's free cash flow rose to about 1.9 billion Swedish crowns in the first quarter of 2026, from 1.7 billion crowns in the corresponding period of 2025, according to the company's quarterly report. The company said in the report that "free cash flow increased to 1.9 billion Swedish crowns". Full-year guidance included in the first-quarter presentation targeted free cash flow of about 9 billion Swedish crowns. The same guidance included capital expenditure of less than 13 billion Swedish crowns during 2026. This capital expenditure target excludes both spectrum and leases, according to the company's presentation.

Against the backdrop of the outlook revision, Telia announced a proposal in October 2026 to cut about 900 jobs across the company as part of a restructuring plan. The plan aims to reduce the operating cost base, according to the company's announcement. Telia set a target for annual gross savings of 1 billion Swedish crowns upon implementation of the plan. It said in its announcement that it intended to "cut about 900 jobs across Telia" and reduce operating costs. The announced savings figure represents an annual gross target for the restructuring plan.

Regarding the presentation of its third-quarter 2026 results, Telia announced a conference call to present its financial results. Chief Executive Patrik Hofbauer will present the results, according to the company's invitation. Chief Financial Officer Eric Hageman will also take part in the presentation. The invitation set the conference call's start time at 09:00 Central European Time. The company said the presentation would be held in English.