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Nokia shares rose 2.3% in pre-market trading on Wednesday, heading for a third consecutive winning session. The gains came after Google announced a €13 billion ($15.1 billion) investment over two years to expand AI infrastructure in Finland. Nokia and Finnish telecom operator Elisa will supply connectivity infrastructure for Google's three planned data centre sites in Kajaani, Muhos and Vaala, plus an expansion of Google's existing Hamina facility. Nokia is also set to rejoin the Euro Stoxx 50 index on 21 September, replacing Volkswagen after a one-year absence. NOK stock has climbed over 60% this year amid the company's pivot towards infrastructure for AI data centres.

Nokia opens Riyadh R&D centre to advance AI-powered network automation and support Saudi Vision 2030. Facility will develop AI-driven network automation software, strengthen local digital skills and contribute Made in Saudi innovations for global telecom markets. Published: 08 Sep 2026 9:38 Nokia has expanded its investment in Saudi Arabia by opening a new research and development (R&D) centre in Riyadh dedicated to developing artificial intelligence (AI-)powered network automation technologies, marking another milestone in the Kingdom's ambitions to become a global hub for digital innovation and advanced technology development. The facility, Nokia's first R&D centre in Saudi Arabia, will focus on creating software that enables communications networks to operate with greater autonomy through artificial intelligence and automation. The centre will develop technologies designed to help networks self-configure, self-heal, optimise performance, reduce energy consumption and improve operational efficiency. The announcement comes as Saudi Arabia accelerates its digital transformation agenda under Vision 2030, the national strategy launched to diversify the economy beyond oil, foster innovation, develop local talent and position the Kingdom as a leading technology and investment destination. AI takes centre stage in network operations. As communications service providers face growing pressure to support AI applications, cloud services, industrial digitisation and increasingly complex network environments, automation is becoming a critical requirement rather than a future aspiration. Nokia's Riyadh-based teams will specialise in developing service management and orchestration (SMO), self-organising networks (SON), autopilot capabilities and rApps, and software applications designed to automate network operations in open and intelligent network architectures. These technologies aim to reduce the need for manual intervention in network management while improving service quality and energy efficiency. By applying AI to network operations, operators can automate routine processes, detect and resolve faults faster, optimise network performance in real time and reduce operational costs. The centre will also explore AI-native technologies that could form part of future 6G networks, helping prepare communications infrastructure for the next generation of connectivity. Mikko Lavanti, president of Middle East and Africa at Nokia, said AI is transforming industries and increasing the importance of advanced communications infrastructure: "AI is reshaping every industry, and networks are the critical infrastructure that will make that transformation possible. "Our new R&D centre in Riyadh will bring Nokia's global expertise together with Saudi talent to develop AI-powered automation that makes networks more autonomous, efficient and responsive. It also strengthens the Kingdom's role in creating connectivity innovation for customers in Saudi Arabia and around the world." Supporting Saudi Arabia's digital ambitions. The launch follows an agreement announced earlier this year between Saudi Arabia's Ministry of Communications and Information Technology (MCIT) and Nokia president and CEO Justin Hotard, highlighting the growing collaboration between global technology providers and the Kingdom's digital ecosystem. The investment aligns closely with Saudi Vision 2030, which identifies digital infrastructure, artificial intelligence and knowledge-based industries as key pillars of future economic growth. The Kingdom has invested heavily in emerging technologies over the past decade, launching initiatives focused on AI, cloud computing, smart cities, cyber security and advanced telecommunications. Saudi Arabia has also established dedicated organisations and programmes to accelerate AI adoption and digital skills development, while attracting international technology companies to set up regional headquarters, innovation centres and research facilities within the Kingdom. The opening of Nokia's R&D centre reflects a broader shift in Saudi Arabia's technology strategy, from being primarily a consumer of technology to becoming a producer and exporter of innovation. In addition to developing software for local communications service providers and enterprise customers, the centre is expected to contribute technologies that can be deployed across Nokia's global customer base, creating exportable intellectual property and software developed in Saudi Arabia. Building local talent and research capabilities. A central objective of the initiative is talent development. Nokia said the centre will create high-value engineering and research positions while supporting advanced training programmes, boot camps and certifications focused on AI, software engineering and network automation. The emphasis on skills development reflects a wider national effort to equip Saudi citizens with expertise in high-growth technology fields and strengthen local research and development capabilities. According to the company, the facility will help to cultivate a new generation of Saudi engineers and researchers who can contribute to global innovation while supporting domestic digital transformation projects. Eng. Abdulrahman AlMufadda, deputy minister for telecom and infrastructure at MCIT, said the centre represents an important step in strengthening Saudi Arabia's position in the global technology landscape: "The opening of Nokia's new research and development centre represents a strategic step toward strengthening the Kingdom's position as a global hub for intelligent network technology innovation and reflects the ambitions of Saudi Vision 2030 to build a knowledge and innovation-driven digital economy. "The centre will contribute to localising advanced research and development capabilities, developing national talent in AI and software, and creating technologies made in Saudi Arabia that can serve global markets," he added. * Saudi Arabia struggling to reach global leadership in deeptech: Petrostate monarchy trying to build surrogate industry made of foreign startups because own ecosystem is too immature. * Vox pop on digital transformation across the Arab world: Nordic Women in Tech Awards asked exhibitors at UAE startup event Expand North Star about the challenges - from lack of fundamental infrastructure to first-world problems - faced by startups and digital businesses in the Middle East. * Saudi plans to be an IT superpower, but challenges lie ahead - impressions of Saudi Arabia during Leap 2025: Big plans ahead, but challenges in physical and digital infrastructure, and in transition from public to private sector dominance.

Nokia opens Mobile Core Early Access programme to global telecom industry. September 8, 2026 As mobile networks evolve to support AI-driven services, automation, and increasingly demanding enterprise applications, operators need faster, more practical ways to evaluate opportunities for innovation. Mobile Core Early Access was created to address these challenges, allowing participants to see how new capabilities operate in practice. Nokia has announced Mobile Core Early Access, a live hosted environment that provides an up-close look at the software driving advanced network connectivity in the AI era. Available globally to telecommunication providers and enterprises, the initiative is designed to shorten the path from technology awareness to informed planning, validation, and adoption. As mobile networks evolve to support AI-driven services, automation, and increasingly demanding enterprise applications, operators need faster, more practical ways to evaluate opportunities for innovation. Mobile Core Early Access was created to address these challenges, allowing participants to see how new capabilities operate in practice. In turn, they can assess business relevance, operational requirements, and deployment considerations earlier in the decision-making process. "Mobile innovation cycles continue to accelerate, and operators need more than presentations and demonstrations to make confident technology choices. Mobile Core Early Access provides a practical way to experience the latest mobile core innovations in a live environment. By bringing capabilities closer to customers earlier, we help them reduce uncertainty and move more quickly from exploration to deployment." - Kal De, Senior Vice President, Core Networks, Nokia Mobile Core Early Access is the first program of its kind to offer a live, hosted, end-to-end environment for exploring the latest mobile core capabilities and use cases alongside radios and devices. After launching in June with a select group of 30 companies, registration is now open to the entire industry. "Nokia's Mobile Core Early Access program addresses a longstanding challenge for operators and enterprises: gaining practical exposure to emerging core network capabilities before making deployment decisions. By providing access to a live, regularly updated environment that showcases real-world 5G Core, automation, analytics and network exposure use cases, Nokia is reducing evaluation friction and helping customers shorten innovation cycles. As the industry moves toward AI-native core networks, initiatives such as Nokia's Mobile Core Early Access can play an important role in accelerating technology adoption and improving customer confidence in future network investments." - Roberto Kompany, Principal Analyst, Mobile Infrastructure, Omdia Through Mobile Core Early Access, participants can: * Explore the latest mobile core capabilities and use cases as they become available. * Evaluate innovations in a live, end-to-end environment that includes network functions, radios and devices. * Gain visibility into how new capabilities operate across cloud-native network functions, user interfaces and operational workflows. * Support technology planning and readiness by understanding deployment considerations earlier in the process. * Reduce the effort required to establish initial testing environments and align stakeholders on use cases and business value. For participants requiring extended access, broader flexibility, or deeper integration with their own environments, Nokia offers a paid option to support more advanced evaluation, experimentation, and validation activities. The TechAfrica News Podcast