Nokia Partners With Microsoft to Boost Mobile Network Performance Using Artificial Intelligence
Espoo, Thursday, 17 September 2026.
Nokia partnered with Microsoft to automate telecom networks through artificial intelligence. The collaboration reduces data preparation time from weeks to minutes, sending Nokia’s shares up nearly five percent.
Strategic Partnership Announcement
On Thursday, 17 September 2026, Nokia announced a significant expansion of its strategic partnership with Microsoft aimed at scaling agentic artificial intelligence and unified data automation across global telecom networks [1]. The collaboration integrates the Nokia Data Suite with Microsoft Fabric to establish a unified data foundation, enabling telecom providers to scale autonomous, AI-driven operations more effectively [1]. This multi-vendor enterprise solution is designed to transform static network infrastructures into programmable, AI-native platforms, marking a shift towards intelligent, agent-based solutions across the network stack [1].
Market Reaction and Timeline
Following the announcement, shares of Nokia jumped nearly 5% in overnight trading, reflecting investor confidence in the initiative [2]. The offering is available now, with joint development and go-to-market activities planned for broader autonomous network use cases in the near future [2]. This immediate market response underscores the financial sector’s anticipation of reduced operational costs and enhanced efficiency promised by the collaboration [2].
Technical Integration and Use Cases
The core of this partnership lies in the integration of Nokia Data Suite with Microsoft Fabric, providing faster access to trusted, unified data [1]. Initial deployment focus areas include Radio Access Network (RAN) optimization through autonomous Voice over New Radio (VoNR) quality assurance [1]. Additionally, the solution supports subscriber geo-experience tracking, which correlates subscriber, network, and RF data to set a new benchmark for cross-domain infrastructure efficiency [1].
Operational Efficiency Gains
Unified data access is designed to cut operator data preparation time from weeks to minutes, supporting scaled AI-driven operations across multi-vendor networks [2]. This reduction in preparation time allows telecom providers to move AI from experimentation into everyday network operations with greater speed and reliability [2]. By bringing together these platforms, the collaboration aims to create a faster path to turn complex network data into actionable intelligence [1].
Executive Insights and Future Outlook
Vivek Jaiswal, Senior Vice President of Autonomous Networks at Nokia, stated that the partnership brings the right data, at the right time, for the right reason to telecom operators worldwide [1]. Silvia Candiani, Corporate Vice President of Worldwide Telco & Media at Microsoft, noted that telecom providers are ready to move AI into everyday operations but require trusted data and strong governance [1]. The collaboration enables intelligent solutions that help networks evolve, ensuring they can support the application and utilization of AI on a global scale [1].