More than 200 jobs at the Australian telecommunications giant Telstra are set to be cut as the company deploys new artificial intelligence systems and shifts some roles to India.
The workforce changes, understood to affect 209 positions, were confirmed by a spokesperson for a major joint venture between Telstra and the technology consultancy Accenture. The spokesperson said on Tuesday that the team had been notified about proposed reductions “where work is no longer needed, and moving some work to the JV team in India”.
If the changes proceed, affected staff would be supported to find new roles either within Telstra or at Accenture, or would be offered a career transition program and redundancy benefits, as reported by The Guardian.
The move is part of a $700m joint venture established in 2025 aimed at driving efficiency, modernisation and productivity. The JV spokesperson stated the changes would allow the venture to utilise Accenture’s “global capabilities, advanced AI expertise and specialist hub in India” to accelerate Telstra’s data and AI plans more quickly, anticipating improved cost efficiencies and an enhanced experience for customers.
This follows a previous announcement from Telstra in 2024 that it would cut 2,800 jobs from its enterprise division, which serves businesses and government, a move it said would not impact retail customers.
The company’s broader AI strategy was outlined in May 2025, when it said “AI efficiencies” would lead to a smaller workforce by 2030. Telstra’s chief executive, Vicki Brady, stated that AI would be “a significant unlock” for enabling the workforce. She specifically referenced “agentic AI” – a form of artificial intelligence that can operate autonomously – working alongside Telstra employees.
Announcing the joint venture initially, Telstra said it would build on its work to create a “world-class data and AI ecosystem” and embed responsible AI practices. The Accenture chair and chief executive, Julie Sweet, said at the time: “We are entering a new era of AI-driven reinvention.”
The approach to AI in the sector was also referenced by rival firm Optus, which has previously stated that while AI would play a significant role in telecommunications, humans would remain central to operations.
