Loss-making telecom equipment maker Ericsson, which employs 1,850 at its Dublin and Athlone facilities, may lay off up to 17,000 staff with news on reductions expected today when the firm unveils its first-quarter results, Swedish tabloid Aftonbladet said yesterday.

Ericsson spokeswoman Ms Ase Lindskog would not comment on the report. Aftonbladet said 10,000 could lose their jobs in Sweden, while some 17,000 jobs may be lost in the firm globally. - (Reuters)