1&1 Trims 60 Roles in Zweibrücken Through Voluntary Scheme as AI Reshapes Workforce
Published on 08/08/2026 at 02:45 | Redaktion boerse-global.de
The mobile carrier 1&1 is cutting roughly 60 positions at its Zweibrücken site, targeting its operations and customer care divisions while keeping the location itself open. Staff were briefed on the planned capacity adjustments on 7 August, following earlier press reports about the move.
Board member Tobias Koch stressed in a company statement that Zweibrücken would remain a going concern despite the reductions. The cuts are being handled through a voluntary programme rather than compulsory redundancies, with employee representatives confirming the approximate scale of around 60 affected posts.
Parent Group Already Shrinking Headcount
The development mirrors earlier restructuring within parent company United Internet. Last year, the Karlsruhe site saw job losses, and group CEO Ralph Dommermuth has said total staffing has fallen from 11,000 to 10,400, with the trend still pointing downward. Greater reliance on artificial intelligence and automation is seen as a key driver behind the shrinking workforce.
For Zweibrücken, the latest move marks another chapter in the company's local presence. Back in 2015, 1&1 employed roughly 450 people there, making it one of the region's more significant employers.
Revenue Climbs Despite Customer Churn
The job cuts come against a backdrop of otherwise improving financials. First-half revenue rose 1.6 percent to approximately €2.27 billion, while operating earnings (EBITDA) gained 5.1 percent to €382.7 million. Group profit jumped 23 percent to €126.5 million.
Customer numbers tell a more complicated story. The mobile division shed around 150,000 contracts, with 100,000 cancellations arriving in April alone, after the company discontinued cheaper legacy tariffs and trimmed data allowances. Broadband, however, added 10,000 contracts to reach 3.85 million. Management has left its full-year forecast unchanged, still targeting EBITDA of roughly €800 million.
Legal Protections Remain in Place
For employees, the announcement does not automatically end their jobs. A statement of intent is not a dismissal, and statutory protection against termination applies to staff who have been with the company for more than six months at a site employing over ten people. Alongside individual redundancies, mutual termination agreements could be offered under the voluntary programme. How the site ultimately evolves will depend on how many workers take up the offer.
