Nokia Restructures With Job Cuts As It Shifts From Phones To Networks!

There was a time when almost every phone in your hand carried the Nokia name, known for its durability, long battery life, and that familiar ringtone. It was a brand people trusted without thinking twice. Today, though, Nokia’s presence feels less visible, but not less important.

TL;DR

 

• Nokia plans to cut up to 14,000 jobs as part of a cost-saving move.
• It no longer makes phones and now builds telecom networks used worldwide.
• Nokia is working on 5G, AI-powered networks, and 6G, while earning from patents and licensing.

Nokia is back in the spotlight after announcing plans to cut up to 14,000 jobs, nearly 20% of its global workforce. The company currently employs around 74,000 people worldwide, including over 17,000 in India.

Addressing the development, Nokia said, "Any regional headcount reductions are part of Nokia's global cost-savings program, which the company announced in 2023. As stated in the past, the target for this program is to make cost savings between EUR 800m-1.2bn by reducing headcount globally between 9,000-14,000 by the end of 2026. Nokia has not announced any specific regional guidance in India on headcount reductions. India continues to be an important hub for Nokia.”

While the layoffs have raised concerns, they also bring attention to what Nokia has become over the years.

Once the world’s biggest phone brand, Nokia defined an entire era of mobile device era. After exiting the phone business in 2014 and selling its mobile division to Microsoft, Nokia didn’t disappear, but it evolved. The company shifted its focus to telecom infrastructure to keep networks running globally.


Today, Nokia is operating largely behind the scenes and developing technology that supports mobile connectivity, internet access, and data transmission across more than 150 countries. Its work enables telecom operators and enterprises to run faster, more reliable networks.
 
While most people don’t see it anymore, its technology remains a core part of how the internet functions.

The company is also a key player in the rollout of 5G networks and working with telecom providers worldwide. Alongside this, it is investing in newer areas like AI-led network management and automation to improve how networks perform and adapt.

At the same time, it is focusing on AI-powered networks, systems that can manage themselves and early work on 6G. Beyond infrastructure, Nokia continues to generate revenue through its intellectual property portfolio, with over 26,000 patent families used in a wide range of devices. Its brand also lives on in the phone market through licensing agreements with HMD Global.

This shows how Nokia has repositioned itself over the years from a consumer-facing brand to a company that quietly powers the networks people rely on every day.