Nokia, the Finnish company that had distanced itself from the mobile telephony sector several years ago, has intensified its transition to become an infrastructure provider focused on artificial intelligence (AI), seeking space in the growth of data centers.
This change in direction boosted the company's shares, which registered an approximate appreciation of 90% throughout the year. The company is now focusing its efforts on developing essential equipment and software for communication between servers, optical networks, and data flow management, aligning with the increase in investments in AI structures by large technology corporations.
Nokia's new phase gained significant momentum with the arrival of Justin Hotard, who previously led the data center and AI areas at Intel. Furthermore, the acquisition of Infinera, an optical technology specialist, reinforced the strategy. However, the success of this new direction still depends on the company's ability to convert market optimism into solid financial results.
Nokia's trajectory has undergone a drastic transformation since its peak in the telephony market. Founded in 1865 as a pulp mill near the Nokianvirta river in Finland, the company evolved through various segments until it became a global mobile phone brand. During the tech bubble of the 2000s, its market value exceeded US$ 250 billion.
In 2014, Nokia divested its handset division to Microsoft, redirecting its focus to telecommunications infrastructure, supplying equipment to mobile operators. Although this segment still represents more than half of the revenue, it lost dynamism after the completion of major fifth-generation network implementation cycles. Faced with this slowdown, Nokia began looking for new sources of growth linked to the advancement of AI.
Hotard's leadership accelerated this change, bringing experienced executives from Silicon Valley to expand the company's presence in AI infrastructure. An additional strengthening factor was the purchase of a 2.9% stake in Nokia by Nvidia for US$ 1 billion in October, as part of a mutual cooperation agreement.
The acquisition of Infinera, finalized for US$ 2.3 billion under the previous administration of Pekka Lundmark, expanded Nokia's presence in the field of optical networks, a technology crucial for transporting large volumes of data. Data from the consultancy Omdia, cited by researcher Ian Redpath, indicates that Nokia's market share in North America in this sector reached 27.3% in 2025, compared to 6.3% the previous year. Currently, Nokia holds the second position in this segment, trailing Ciena, which commands 50.1% of the market, according to the consultancy.
Progress in the optical networks area raised the company's expectations. After a robust first quarter in this segment, Nokia almost doubled its annual growth forecast, projecting expansion between 18% and 20%. However, the company faces typical challenges of the AI sector, such as fierce competition for components necessary for building technological infrastructure, which causes supply problems and longer delivery times.
In April, Justin Hotard mentioned that the company was analyzing options to secure supply and control costs given the expectation of rising semiconductor prices. Daryl Schoolar, analyst and director at Recon Analytics, associated Nokia's recent stock performance with the enthusiasm generated by the AI market, emphasizing that the valuation depends on the actual development of AI, a scenario he considers still uncertain.
The dependence on the AI cycle also implies financial risks. Investors have raised questions about the high expenditures of technology companies, the uncertainty regarding the revenue generation of these applications, and the effect of high interest rates on debt-financed data center expansion investments. Amanda Lyons, head of research at Energy Group Capital, observed that the market already prices Nokia as an AI company, although actual results still need to match this expectation.
Apple plans to introduce five new iPhone models this year, among which will be the first iPhone Ultra Fold. This information is based on data from various media reports.
According to Nikkei Asia, the company has set a goal to produce about 10 million units of its first foldable device. Currently, the mobile industry faces a shortage of components such as chipsets and memory.
Reports indicate that instead of holding one major event per year, the company is considering organizing two events. The first event is scheduled for the first half of the year, and the second for the second half.
By holding two events a year, Apple aims to increase its share in the mobile device market. Furthermore, the decision for two events was made due to supply chain issues.
There is speculation that Apple will release the iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max this year. The iPhone Ultra Fold might be presented at this event. Although Apple lags behind brands like Samsung, Google, Oppo, and Honor in the foldable phone segment, the company is actively working in this area.
Previously, there were rumors of a possible price increase for the company's devices this year. The company recently raised prices for the iPad and MacBook, but no increases have been made for the iPhone yet.
