Nvidia will invest $1 billion (CAD$1.37 billion) in Nokia and align on an AI-first roadmap for mobile networks, anchoring a partnership that targets so‑called AI‑native 6G.
The collaboration will span radio access, data centre networking, and edge inference, with Nokia’s RAN software ported to Nvidia’s CUDA platform. The move formalizes a capital and product tie‑up between a leading AI chip vendor and a top telecom equipment maker. It also signals a bet that wireless networks will shift to general purpose accelerated computing.
Equity Issuance Anchors Strategic Partnership
Nokia’s board approved a direct share issuance of 166,389,351 new shares to Nvidia at $6.01 per share (about CAD$8.23), equal to a post‑issue stake of 2.90 percent. The subscription, delivered as American depositary shares and subject to closing conditions, places proceeds into Nokia’s invested equity reserve and deviates from pre‑emptive rights on strategic grounds.
Nokia frames the cash as fuel to accelerate AI‑aligned networking products across its mobile and network infrastructure units. The two companies also set terms to explore integration of Nokia’s switching and optical technologies into future Nvidia AI systems. According to Nokia, the new shares are expected to be registered in November and then admitted to trading in Helsinki, Paris, and New York.
AI‑RAN Targets Data Centre Demand
On the product side, Nvidia introduced its Aerial RAN Computer Pro, a 6G‑ready accelerated platform that combines connectivity, sensing, and computation to host both RAN and AI workloads on the same footprint.
Nokia plans to embed this platform into a new AI‑RAN line while enabling a software upgrade path from 5G‑Advanced to 6G. “The next leap in telecom isn’t just from 5G to 6G,” said Justin Hotard, signalling a network redesign to process intelligence from core to edge.
“Together with Nokia and America’s telecom ecosystem, we’re igniting this revolution,” added Jensen Huang, aligning the AI vendor’s roadmap with carrier‑class constraints.
The partners position AI‑RAN as a bridge between the data centre supply chain and cell sites, expanding the addressable base for accelerated computing. Nvidia’s investment underscores that thesis and sets a clear signal to operators weighing near‑term RAN modernisation paths on commercial silicon.
Signals and Market Impact
From delivery signals, T‑Mobile US will collaborate on AI‑RAN integration and begin field evaluations in 2026, with Dell PowerEdge servers supporting the reference stack. Markets reacted fast, with Nokia shares rising about 21 percent after the announcement, the highest level since 2016, as investors repriced the company’s optionality in AI‑linked networking.
The share move followed news that Nvidia would take a 2.9 percent holding via new shares, rather than buying stock on market, which concentrates the governance and capital alignment benefits. The partnership also sits on top of Nokia’s data centre push, including the completion of its Infinera acquisition on February 28, 2025 for about $2.3 billion (CAD$3.15 billion), which broadened optical and web‑scale exposure.
For policy and procurement audiences, the takeaway is clear, AI‑ready networks will increasingly be specified around accelerated compute, ethernet fabrics, and software‑defined RAN, not only spectrum and towers.