US mobile operator Sprint is reportedly set to cut as much as $2.5 billion in costs in the near future, as part of a plan that “inevitably will result in job reductions”.

According to The Wall Street Journal, Tarek Robbiati, the company’s new CFO, outlined the plans in an internal memo. Savings of $2 billion to $2.5 billion are targeted.

As a first step, Sprint is imposing an external hiring freeze, and the finance department is reviewing expenditure with the mantra of “treating every dollar as if it were your own”.

But Sprint has been tightening its belt in recent years, meaning that achieving big savings may prove tough without impacting its core businesses.

The company recently cited a reduction in operating expenses as being one of the factors enabling it to up its EBITDA guidance for 2015.

The operator has already opted-out of the US’ next spectrum auction, citing its existing strong spectrum – although its advantage may not last for ever.