Sprint closed the call center as part of cost cutting plan
T-Mobile US is in talks to take over a call center in Albuquerque, New Mexico, that was recently closed by Sprint as part of the struggling carrier’s cost cutting plan, according to reports.
Dave Hill of commercial real estate firm NAI Maestas & Ward told the Albuquerque Journal, “T-Mobile is looking at an opportunity to help the community and the displaced Sprint employees. It’s a great real estate play and a great opportunity for the community.”
He said T-Mobile is “actively engaged” with the property owner.
Sprint CEO Marcelo Claure is working to turn the company around with a savings plan designed to cut $2.5 billion in expenses. Sprint is also undertaking a massive network improvement plan.
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Part of the reduction plan includes around 2,500 layoffs announced earlier this month, as well as trimming the value of severance packages, suspending raises and even measures like getting rid of trash cans to cut operational expenses.
Sprint is also restructuring using a decentralized approach meant to reverse a seven-year streak of subscriber losses and better serve the carrier’s customers in 19 major U.S. markets.
There are four new regions each with a president who reports directly to Claure. Each of the 19 key markets will also have a president. The plan also includes a more united sales approach, which will target Sprint’s entire customer base as opposed to its current strategy of dividing the sales team into separate channels.
Of those 2,500 layoffs, about 2,000 hit call center employees, according to the Kansas City Star. In addition to the Albuquerque call center, offices were closed in Virginia, Colorado, Texas and Tennessee.