Nokia Networks

Nokia Networks is the telecommunications network infrastructure business associated with Nokia Corporation. It developed from Nokia Siemens Networks, a joint venture formed by Nokia and Siemens, and became wholly owned by Nokia in 2013. The business has supplied carrier-grade equipment, software and professional services to communications service providers, public-sector organizations, transport operators and industrial customers across international markets. Its scope has included radio access networks, mobile core systems, fixed broadband access, IP routing, optical transport, network-management platforms, carrier Ethernet, cloud networking and private wireless networks. The business has historically served operators deploying 2G, 3G, 4G and 5G systems, while also extending into industrial automation, mining, ports, utilities, railways and other specialized environments that require secure, low-latency connectivity. The company was publicly announced in 2006 and began full operations in April 2007 as Nokia Siemens Networks. Its early strategy combined the network businesses of Nokia and Siemens and used acquisitions to add technology, customer relationships and geographic capabilities. Purchases included Atrica, a carrier Ethernet specialist; Apertio, which provided subscriber-management software; Motorola’s wireless-network equipment business; and Mesaplexx, an Australian radio-frequency filter company. During the early 2010s, the company redirected its portfolio toward mobile broadband. It sold its fixed-line Broadband Access business to ADTRAN and carried out a major restructuring that reduced its workforce and operating costs. The strategy helped improve profitability and cash generation after a period of weak performance. In 2013, Nokia acquired Siemens’ interest for €1.7 billion, making the company a Nokia subsidiary. The NSN name was subsequently replaced by Nokia Solutions and Networks and then Nokia Networks in 2014. Nokia Networks was expanded substantially through Nokia’s acquisition of Alcatel-Lucent, announced in 2015 and completed in 2016. The transaction added Alcatel-Lucent’s radio, IP, optical, fixed-access, submarine-network and related telecommunications capabilities. Nokia subsequently competed globally with Ericsson, Huawei, Samsung and other infrastructure suppliers, particularly in mobile broadband and 5G. The business has supported large-scale railway, optical-fibre, private-wireless and 5G deployments. Examples include GSM-R and fibre infrastructure for rail operators in Poland, trials of 5G-enabled automated rail operations in Germany, private 5G solutions for industrial customers, and a Future Railway Mobile Communication System proof of concept with Swiss Federal Railways. In the 2020s, it faced weaker operator spending, intense competition and the loss or reassignment of selected customer contracts. Nokia also announced the planned divestment of its submarine-networks business to the French state while retaining a minority interest. The Nokia Networks name is used in connection with Nokia’s network infrastructure activities, although Nokia has continued to reorganize the presentation and structure of its business units over time.

Nokia Networks originated in the combination of Nokia’s network business and the telecommunications activities of Siemens. The joint venture was publicly announced on 19 June 2006 under the Nokia Siemens Networks name. It was introduced at the 3GSM World Congress in Barcelona in February 2007 and began full operations on 1 April 2007. From its formation, the company was headquartered in Espoo, Finland, while operating internationally. The new company pursued growth through a mixture of internal development and targeted acquisitions. In 2008 it acquired Atrica, a provider of carrier Ethernet transport systems for metropolitan networks, and Apertio, a United Kingdom-based supplier of mobile subscriber-management tools. These transactions expanded the company’s transport and customer-management portfolios and added relationships with major European mobile operators. Siemens later acknowledged that its financial interest was effectively non-controlling in operational terms, leaving Nokia with substantial influence over day-to-day direction. In July 2010, Nokia Siemens Networks announced the purchase of Motorola’s wireless-network equipment business. The transaction closed in April 2011 and transferred approximately 6,900 employees across 52 countries. It strengthened the company’s radio-access and operator customer base, especially in North America and other international markets. The company then undertook a major strategic change. In November 2011, it announced that it would concentrate on mobile broadband, which management regarded as the most attractive growth segment. The refocus involved selling the fixed-line Broadband Access business to ADTRAN and reducing the workforce by approximately 17,000 positions. The restructuring was intended to lower annual operating expenses and move the business away from weaker or less strategically important activities. The company subsequently reported improved margins and positive cash flow after several difficult years. Nokia acquired Siemens’ remaining interest in August 2013, making the business wholly owned. It was first branded Nokia Solutions and Networks and, in April 2014, became Nokia Networks. That year the company also acquired Mesaplexx, an Australian specialist in radio-frequency filters, to support small-cell and heterogeneous-network applications. Nokia announced its proposed acquisition of Alcatel-Lucent in 2015. The combination, completed in November 2016 after regulatory and shareholder approvals, substantially broadened Nokia’s network portfolio. Alcatel-Lucent contributed capabilities in mobile access, fixed access, IP routing, optical networking, submarine systems and related software. The integrated group became a larger global competitor to Ericsson, Huawei and later Samsung, while also inheriting the integration demands and workforce duplication associated with a major cross-border transaction. Nokia Networks subsequently participated in large infrastructure projects beyond conventional mobile networks. In 2018, Poland’s national railway operator selected Nokia for a nationwide GSM-R system and associated optical backhaul. In 2019, Deutsche Bahn selected Nokia for delivery and testing of a 5G-based network intended to support automated rail operations. In 2020, Nokia disclosed a private 5G standalone product for industrial users and completed a railway communications proof of concept with Swiss Federal Railways in support of the emerging FRMCS standard. The 2020s brought a more difficult market environment. Operators reduced or delayed some network investments, competition intensified, and Nokia lost or saw changes to important customer relationships, including Verizon’s decision to use Samsung for parts of its 5G deployment and AT&T’s later selection of Ericsson for a major contract. Nokia’s workforce declined substantially over the period, reflecting both business conditions and continuing portfolio changes. Nokia announced in 2024 that it intended to exit the submarine-networks market by selling Alcatel Submarine Networks to the French state while retaining a minority interest. The transaction was completed in January 2025. Nokia Networks-related activity also continued in optical-fibre automation and open-access infrastructure, including an agreement with Openreach for the One Network Platform. The business remains associated with Nokia’s global network infrastructure activities, although its precise organizational presentation and branding have changed as Nokia has reorganized its corporate segments.

1. 2025Submarine-networks divestment completed

   The planned sale of Alcatel Submarine Networks to the French state was completed, with Nokia retaining a minority interest.

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2. 2020Private 5G standalone offering disclosed

   Nokia revealed a private standalone 5G product aimed at industrial customers.

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3. 2019German 5G rail trial selected

   Deutsche Bahn selected Nokia to deliver and test a 5G-based network for automated rail operations.

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4. 2018Polish railway communications contract

   Nokia was selected to deploy a nationwide GSM-R railway network and optical-fibre backhaul for Poland’s state railway infrastructure.

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5. 2016Alcatel-Lucent integration completed

   Nokia completed its acquisition of Alcatel-Lucent, significantly expanding its network technology portfolio.

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6. 2014Nokia Networks branding introduced

   The Nokia Solutions and Networks name was replaced by Nokia Networks.

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7. 2013Nokia becomes sole owner

   Nokia purchased Siemens’ remaining stake and took full ownership of the network business.

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8. 2011Motorola wireless business acquired

   Nokia Siemens Networks completed the purchase of Motorola’s wireless-network equipment business.

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9. 2011Mobile-broadband strategy adopted

   The company announced a concentration on mobile broadband and began a large restructuring program.

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10. 2008Atrica and Apertio acquisitions

    The company acquired carrier Ethernet specialist Atrica and subscriber-management software provider Apertio.

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11. 2007Full operations begin

    Nokia Siemens Networks began full operations on 1 April after its public launch earlier that year.

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12. 2006Joint venture formation announced

    Nokia and Siemens announced the creation of Nokia Siemens Networks, combining their relevant telecommunications network businesses.

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A global telecommunications infrastructure supplier competing on carrier-grade mobile, fixed, IP, optical, cloud and private-wireless capabilities, with particular emphasis on operator-grade 4G and 5G networks and specialized industrial and transport applications.

• AirScaleRadio access network

  AirScale is Nokia’s family of radio-access products for mobile operators. It covers baseband and radio components used in modern cellular networks, including 4G and 5G deployments. The platform is intended to support scalable capacity, multiple radio configurations and software-driven network evolution.

• CloudBandCloud networking and orchestration

  CloudBand is a Nokia software and infrastructure environment associated with network functions virtualization, cloud-native network services and orchestration. It is designed to help operators deploy and manage virtualized network functions across distributed telecommunications cloud environments.

• Private 5G standalone solutionsEnterprise and industrial wireless2020

  Nokia’s private 5G offerings provide dedicated wireless connectivity for industrial sites and other controlled environments. They are aimed at applications requiring predictable performance, security and local control, including mining, manufacturing, logistics, utilities and transport.

• IP and optical networking platformsTransport networking

  These product families provide routing, carrier Ethernet, optical transport and fibre-network capabilities for service-provider and large-enterprise networks. They form the transport layer connecting access networks, data centers, backbone sites and customer locations.

• One Network PlatformNetwork automation2025

  One Network Platform combines software and hardware intended to support intent-based networking across open-access optical-fibre infrastructure. The platform is designed to let network operators express desired outcomes and automate aspects of network configuration and operation.

• 2024Exit from submarine networksStrategy

  Nokia reviewed its portfolio amid a difficult telecommunications-equipment market and chose to reduce its direct exposure to submarine-network activities.

  What changed. Nokia agreed to sell Alcatel Submarine Networks to the French state while retaining a minority interest.

  Aftermath. The divestment was completed in January 2025, narrowing Nokia’s direct submarine-network operations.

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• 2015Combination with Alcatel-Lucent announcedM&A

  Nokia sought greater scale and a broader technology portfolio to compete with Ericsson, Huawei and other network-equipment providers.

  What changed. Nokia announced an all-stock acquisition of Alcatel-Lucent, which was completed in 2016 after regulatory and shareholder approvals.

  Aftermath. The transaction added Alcatel-Lucent’s mobile, fixed, IP, optical and submarine-network capabilities to Nokia’s portfolio.

  Announced transaction value. €15.6 billion (2015 announcement)

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• 2013Nokia acquires Siemens’ interestM&A

  Nokia and Siemens had operated the network-equipment business as a joint venture since 2007.

  What changed. Nokia purchased all of Siemens’ shares and became the sole owner.

  Aftermath. The business was renamed Nokia Solutions and Networks and subsequently Nokia Networks.

  Purchase consideration. €1.7 billion (2013 transaction)

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• 2011Refocus on mobile broadbandStrategy

  Nokia Siemens Networks identified mobile broadband as a faster-growing and more strategically important part of the telecommunications-equipment market.

  What changed. The company prioritized mobile broadband, sold its fixed-line Broadband Access business to ADTRAN and launched a major workforce and cost-reduction program.

  Aftermath. The restructuring was followed by improved operating performance and sustained positive cash flow, although it involved substantial job losses.

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• 2025Openreach selects Nokia for One Network Platform

  Openreach agreed to use Nokia hardware and software supporting an intent-based operating model across its open-access optical-fibre network.

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• 2024Nokia announces divestment of Alcatel Submarine Networks

  Nokia announced an agreement to sell its submarine-networks business to the French state while retaining a minority holding; the transaction was completed in 2025.

  M&A
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• 2020Verizon changes part of its 5G supplier relationship

  Verizon announced that Samsung would replace Nokia as a supplier for parts of its 5G network deployment, illustrating competitive pressure in the North American market.

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• 2020Nokia introduces a private 5G standalone offering

  Nokia presented a private 5G standalone solution aimed at industrial applications, including mining and other demanding operating environments.

  Product launch
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• 2015Nokia announces acquisition of Alcatel-Lucent

  Nokia announced an all-stock transaction to combine with Alcatel-Lucent and strengthen its position against major network-equipment competitors.

  M&A
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• 2014NSN adopts the Nokia Networks name

  Nokia phased out the Nokia Solutions and Networks branding in favor of Nokia Networks.

  Other
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• 2013Nokia buys Siemens’ stake in NSN

  Nokia completed the purchase of Siemens’ interest, making the network business wholly owned by Nokia.

  M&A
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• 2011Nokia Siemens Networks acquires Motorola wireless-network equipment

  The company completed its acquisition of Motorola’s wireless-network equipment business, adding employees, customers and radio-network capabilities in multiple countries.

  M&A
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• 2011NSN announces mobile-broadband refocus and restructuring

  NSN prioritized mobile broadband and announced extensive workforce reductions and cost savings as part of a strategic restructuring.

  Other
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• 2007Nokia Siemens Networks begins full operations

  The Nokia-Siemens telecommunications joint venture formally commenced operations after being announced in 2006.

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1. Nokia Networks
2. Nokia Networks official website