BENGALURU/NEW DELHI: Job losses arising out of consolidation in the telecom sector are likely to extend over the next year, with a range of positions across categories likely to be affected, placement firms said. However, the prospects for those laid off are not entirely bleak: alternative jobs are available, although candidates may have to upgrade their skills and settle for lower salaries.As Reliance Communications shuts the bulk of its wireless business and the Tata Group sells its mobile business to Bharti Airtel, the axe will fall on an average of 20,000 to 30,000 jobs over the next 12 months, according to estimates by the heads of firms including TeamLease Services, Manpower Group Services, ABC Consultants, Randstad India and Korn Ferry.Those working in infrastructure and networking engineering, sales and distribution, telecom engineering, HR and finance, call centre and other support functions will be in trouble, experts said. “The sector is burdened with an enormous debt — close to Rs 8 lakh crore — and is operating under tremendous pressure after the entry of Reliance Jio with its free-to-dirt cheap-tariff offers,” said Rituparna Chakraborty, co-founder of TeamLease Services.“Now there’s a bloodbath amid the consolidation and cost-cutting. Mid to senior managers will be most vulnerable, especially on the technical side,” said Vivek Mehta, head of the telecom, technology and education practice for ABC Consultants.Most of the job losses will be in the telecom infrastructure space and frontline sales and distribution, said Gaurav Burman, principal- global technology, Korn Ferry India. “The industry is looking at moving towards software-defined networks and infrastructure as a service, and most importantly in the user experience space.”Jobs in data entry, tele-calling, ground sales, with annual salaries ranging from Rs 1.2 lakh to Rs 2.8 lakh, will become obsolete. “The major impact will be on the mid and lower levels — mostly the support functions will face the heat,” said Chakraborty.Most of the cuts will be in the technical and engineering side, which typically command monthly salaries between Rs 40,000 and a few lakhs, depending on seniority, said AG Rao, group managing director at Manpower Group Services.Randstad India CEO Paul Dupuis said those in HR, accounting and finance can expect to see job cuts, their roles becoming redundant thanks to automation. Many of those in consumer sales can also expect to be let go as companies will need fewer feet on the street.Experts said telecom workers who are laid off over the next year or so can find alternative employment if they upgrade their skills and become cognisant of new technologies in the space of user experience, Internet of Things and artificial intelligence.Infrastructure and network managers can find jobs in e-commerce and fintech companies where they will be able to use their skills in data and analytics, said Korn Ferry’s Burman.Jobs in user experience at larger information technology companies may also be up for grabs for the mid and senior levels, with expected annual salaries ranging from Rs 60 lakh to Rs 80 lakh. However, as recruiters will be inundated with CVs, those shifting from telecom must be prepared to take pay cuts, Burman said.Those in the technical verticals can look at getting reskilled in information technology to become eligible for roles in testing and research & development, said Manpower’s Rao.The logistics, retail, e-commerce and FMCG sectors may be good options for those laid off in data entry, sales and distribution and tele-calling. Those in accounting and finance can look towards the banking, financial services and insurance sector for employment, said Randstad’s Dupuis.Within telecom itself, roles expected to be in demand include radio frequency engineer, system analyst, SAP consultant and embedded hardware developer, commanding annual salaries between Rs 2 lakh and Rs 6 lakh. This growth may be attributed to the spread of mobile phones services, said Chakraborty.Broadband and Internet service providers — including ACP and Hathaway — will be a good option for those in network roles. “There are many technology and education-learning startups that are mushrooming, which may also be viable options for them,” said ABC’s Mehta.