Sprint Corp., the nation's third-largest long-distance provider and fourth-largest wireless provider, plans to eliminate 2,100 jobs, or about 2.8 percent of its work force, during the next year as it restructures operations, cuts costs and tries to return to profitability.

Nonie Toledo, general manager for Sprint Hawai'i, said the local job cuts will come in a billing department that primarily supports Mainland customers. "It is not a large impact for services we provide locally," she said.

The Kansas City, Mo.-based company said the reorganization's goal is to create one division to handle all local, long-distance, Internet and wireless network needs for its customers. Sprint now has separate divisions for local telephone, wireless and other services.

Sprint plans to combine network, information technology and billing operations for several of its divisions as a way to save up to $145 million a year.

Sprint has laid off more than 15,000 employees since October 2001, and expects to have a work force of 72,00 after the latest cuts. About half of the layoffs announced today will be in Kansas City.