No, Nokia is not a Chinese company. It is a Finnish multinational telecommunications and technology company headquartered in Espoo, Finland. Nokia focuses on B2B offerings across multiple segments. Network infrastructure offerings include fixed, optical and IP-based networking solutions for service providers and enterprises. Mobile network solutions include 4G/5G radio portfolio, fixed wireless access for broadband delivery and tailored 5G for public safety and defence. Cloud and network services include digital automation cloud and managed services. Mobile phones are manufactured and sold by HMD Global, with Nokia licencing the brand.
| Details | Info |
| Founded | 1871 |
| Founder | Fredrik Idestam, Leo Michelin |
| Headquarters | Espoo, Finland |
| CEO | Justin Hotard |
| Sector | Telecommunications, Technology |
Company History
Nokia traces its roots to a pulp mill established by Fredrik Idestam in the year 1865 near Tampere, Finland. A second pulp mill was established near the town of Nokia in the year 1868. In the year 1871, Idestam and his friend Leo Michelin formed a shared company and named it Nokia Ab.
Nokia Ab ventured into electricity generation in the year 1902. In the year 1922, Nokia Ab entered into a partnership with Finnish Rubber Works and Kappelitehdas or Cable Factory. Nokia Ab, Kappelitehdas and Finnish Rubber Works merged to form Nokia Corporation in the year 1967.
Nokia Corporation launched Nordic Mobile Telephone, world’s first international cellular network, in 1981. The company launched the world’s first mobile phone, Mobira Talkman, in 1984. In the year 1996, Nokia introduced its first smartphone, Nokia 9000 Communicator. Nokia became the number one mobile phone brand globally in the year 1998.
By 2007, Nokia had captured 40% share in the global mobile phone market. Nokia failed to compete with Android phones and Apple’s iPhone, eventually selling its mobile phone business to Microsoft in 2013. In the year 2015, Nokia became a B2B telecom infrastructure company.
Current Status
Nokia is one of the top three global RAN vendors alongside Ericsson and Huawei. Mobile networks and network infrastructure respectively account for 45% and 35% of the company’s revenues. Nokia mobile phones manufactured by HMD Global under licence are available in the market.
Nokia is present in over 130 countries worldwide. It serves over 180 telecom operators and more than 620 enterprise private wireless customers globally. Majority of its revenues come from Americas, followed by Europe/Middle East/Africa and Asia-Pacific.
Future Outlook
Nokia is expected to prioritise AI-driven networks, 6G and beyond, enterprise/defence expansion and sustainability. The company is set to consolidate its operations into two segments, namely network infrastructure and mobile infrastructure. Nokia aims to achieve up to 60% growth in profits by 2028.
