Nokia's AI Ambitions Run From a North Carolina Fiber Build to a Satellite Handoff
Published on 11/09/2026 at 14:40 | Editorial boerse-global.de
Nokia has packed a dense stretch of announcements into a little over two weeks, spanning a U.S. fiber build, a credit-rating promotion, an analyst endorsement, a research memorandum on AI chips, and a satellite-to-cellular handoff. The common thread is the equipment maker's push to position itself at the intersection of artificial intelligence and network infrastructure.
The stock reflected the momentum: Nokia shares climbed 3.5% on Friday to close at €7.00.
Hotwire Taps Nokia for AI-Ready Network
Hotwire Communications selected Nokia to construct a next-generation network in North Carolina. The network, designed to be ready for AI workloads, is scheduled to go live in early 2027, according to Nokia's Wednesday announcement.
The win landed alongside a credit upgrade. Roughly a week earlier, Moody's Ratings lifted Nokia's long-term issuer rating and its rating on senior unsecured obligations from Ba1 to Baa3, moving the company back into investment-grade territory. The outlook was left at positive. Moody's pointed to demand for cloud and AI infrastructure as the rationale.
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Jefferies Sticks With Buy Call
On November 2, Jefferies reaffirmed its buy recommendation on Nokia and maintained its €13.80 price target. Both the rating and the target were unchanged in that analyst action.
Data Center Fabric Meets Semidynamics
Media reports on October 29 indicated that Nokia and Semidynamics signed a memorandum of understanding to explore cooperation on data center solutions. The arrangement centers on potentially integrating Semidynamics' AI technology with Nokia's Data Center Fabric, and at this stage concerns the study of a technical connection.
Specifically, the partners intend to examine how Semidynamics' AI inference accelerators could link with Nokia's offerings. The planned review also covers integrating Semidynamics' liquid-cooled racks. The memorandum therefore spans both the accelerators and the cooled infrastructure, each in combination with Nokia's Data Center Fabric.
AI to Drive 44% of Network Traffic by 2035
Nokia's report on global network traffic projects that AI will generate nearly half of worldwide network traffic by 2035 — a 44% share, by the company's estimate. Total network traffic at that point is expected to reach almost 3,789 exabytes per month. Both figures are Nokia's own forecasts for future traffic development.
Nokia at a turning point? This analysis reveals what investors need to know now.
Satellite Handoff Puts Nokia Software in the Path
Separately, AT&T and AST SpaceMobile reported on October 21 that they had completed a successful connection handoff between their networks. The connection switched between AT&T's terrestrial mobile network and AST SpaceMobile's satellite network, which communicates directly with end devices. According to the companies, it was the industry's first successful handoff of its kind.
Nokia supplied radio access technology and mobility software for AST SpaceMobile's network. The reported test covered the switch between the two network types, while the Hotwire network Nokia was chosen to build is not due to enter service until early 2027.
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Nokia Stock: New Analysis - 9 November
Fresh Nokia information released. What's the impact for investors? Our latest independent report examines recent figures and market trends.
